Carla had learned to ride and care for horses when we lived for two years in TN. A church member had a horse farm, and one summer we even had a yearling pony living in our back yard. In the morning I would call out “Hello Dolly” and she would whinny back every time. When we moved to Texas, it was almost like Carla moved to heaven! Every morning we were at the ranch she would head for the barn.
As we prepared for our second summer at Sky Ranch, Carla asked us if she could have a Chincoteague pony. She had gotten the idea from reading Misty, Stormy, and Sea Star – books which told about wild ponies on the island. Every year the yearlings were rounded up by the fire department for auction on “pony penning day”. Without too much thought, I told her that the books had been written many years before. We did not know how true they were, or if there were still annual pony penning day auctions. “Can I write and find out?” I said yes. So Carla wrote a letter to the Fire Chief on Chincoteague Island, VA. When he answered, I knew I was in big trouble!!! Bottom line: in July the two of us headed for the island, 1000 miles away, pulling a borrowed one horse trailer, carrying camping gear and a list of people and places we wanted to visit in the next 9 days. Carla and I had lots of time to talk, a special time indeed.
On our way to the island we stayed with friends and stopped at the Seminary where I had studied for three years. When we arrived at Chincoteague, it seemed like every other horse loving child in the world had talked their parents into coming as well. It was truly a festive occasion – the auction would be in two days. I could also quickly see that there would be considerable bidding for the ponies - sinking feeling in pit of stomach!!!
Carla and I found our camp site, set up camp, and then went to see the ponies which would be auctioned. Unfortunately for me, Carla already knew much about horses, and soon had her eyes on one specific pony, a paint that was larger than most of the others. Though I encouraged her to look at other animals, which she did, there was no question as to which one she wanted. Soon she was reaching through the fence and rubbing the neck of the beautiful animal.
In the early evening, when we were out for a walk, we saw a weathered looking man on a large horse…no Chincoteague pony! I asked the man, Walt Clark, if he lived on the island. He slowly answered, “Lived here all my life”. During our conversation I asked him “Walt, you know these animals. Is there a pony we should try and buy?” He smiled slightly and said “sir, buy her the one she wants, or it won’t matter.”
The next day we met a family with several children that were planning on buying four ponies, and my guess was that money was no object. I remember saying to Carla that it was a good to make friends with them – because if they wanted to buy “your” pony, we are in big trouble.
The auction began, and Carla had her heart set on only one pony…that she was already calling Yankey. When the bidding began on Yankey, it was brisk! Not good for us!! As the price went up, the number of bidders got smaller and smaller. When the price got higher than any previous sale, there were two of us bidding. When we got to $500, the amount Sally Jo and I set as our limit, what was I to do? (“Get her the one she wants, or it won’t matter”) So…I kept bidding. When we hit $700, suddenly the bidding stopped…and we owned Yankey! Immediately after the bidding was over, one of the daughters of the family buying four ponies came over to us, all apologetic. “Carla, I stopped my dad from bidding as soon as I realized we were bidding against you! I am sorry the price got so high.”
After the auction was over, and we were preparing to load Yankey, a reporter came to interview us about the pony we had purchased. When he asked why I was willing to pay more than anyone ever had for a Chincoteague pony, I remember telling him, “We did not buy a pony, but an experience.” The round-up, sale and interview were broadcast across the country – including Dallas, where many of Carla’s friends saw us on TV.
Over the next several years Carla trained Yankey to do most everything but talk! Our adventure was a good investment of time and money. Yes, this was part of living In Partnership With God.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
Mr. Mason – Unexpected Provider #93
After campers and their families have found places to sit on the board firmly attached to the top of the rodeo arena fence, members of the staff enter the arena with flags flying. They gallop along the fence and then ride an intricate pattern – just like at the beginning of a real rodeo! Well, almost!!
The rodeo, with campers as participants, continues with everything from the water balloon toss to barrel racing.
During the rodeo I was walking outside of the arena when a man I did not know leaned back, handed me his business card, and asked me to give him a call. When I returned to Dallas, I called Mr. Mason who invited me to come to his office.
I was warmly welcomed, and then he said something like “I do not know why I gave you my card". I suggested we talk a few minutes to see if we could come up with the reason.
Out of our conversation came the realization that the Mason family had a cabin two miles from the Sky Ranch which they seldom used. Our family was invited to use the cabin, and to enjoy everything in the cabin, including the ping pong table…and the food.
“When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip 'Where shall we buy bread to feed all these people?' He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, 'Eight months wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!'
Another of his disciples, Andrew...spoke up. 'Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish'. Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated (5,000 men, plus women and children) as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.” -- John 6:5-11
It is sobering to have God unexpectedly use us to provide.
It is sobering to have God unexpectedly provide for us.
The rodeo, with campers as participants, continues with everything from the water balloon toss to barrel racing.
During the rodeo I was walking outside of the arena when a man I did not know leaned back, handed me his business card, and asked me to give him a call. When I returned to Dallas, I called Mr. Mason who invited me to come to his office.
I was warmly welcomed, and then he said something like “I do not know why I gave you my card". I suggested we talk a few minutes to see if we could come up with the reason.
Out of our conversation came the realization that the Mason family had a cabin two miles from the Sky Ranch which they seldom used. Our family was invited to use the cabin, and to enjoy everything in the cabin, including the ping pong table…and the food.
“When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip 'Where shall we buy bread to feed all these people?' He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, 'Eight months wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!'
Another of his disciples, Andrew...spoke up. 'Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish'. Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated (5,000 men, plus women and children) as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.” -- John 6:5-11
It is sobering to have God unexpectedly use us to provide.
It is sobering to have God unexpectedly provide for us.
Monday, March 29, 2010
I Was Stunned! #92
Our family lived in Dallas during the school year. On weekends and during the summer, we lived in one of the ranch mobile homes. One summer our housing was needed by other staff, so our family moved off the ranch property.
We rented a cabin on a lake 15 minutes from the ranch. The one room cabin had an enclosed porch and a small bathroom with sink, shower…and a toilet that was to be hooked up soon, but never was. The outhouse worked. Our three children slept on the porch. Sally Jo and I slept in the one room – the foot of our bed against the refrigerator. The cabin was on a small peninsula which provided privacy and an occasional breeze.
On a weekday night, when I was in Dallas, Sally Jo and our children heard a boat go along the shore around the peninsula. Several men were gigging for frogs and obviously drunk. Talk about feeling vulnerable!!!
Five mornings each week Sally Jo gathered together everything needed for the day. At the ranch she would supervise the 5 acre garden, help in the camp store – do what was ever necessary. Our oldest daughter, Carla, loved to work in the barn. Jenna and Dirk would stick with mom, or play with other staff kids. After lunch Sally Jo and the kids had an hour together with other staff in the beautiful swimming pool. When at the ranch, there was no place we could call our own that summer.
Every Monday morning I would drive the two hours into Dallas to work in office. During the week I would write notes on contributions, write checks, keep up with government contributed surplus food forms, talk with camper parents - and work out of the office with donors, Sky Ranch Board members. I would speak occasionally. Most evenings I would go to our empty home, fix some food, do more paper work, and go to bed. I pushed hard so I could get back to the ranch on Friday as early as possible. All of this was made tougher because the Dallas office building was air-conditioned to 68 degrees, the outside temperature would be over 100, and the temperature within a car that had been sitting in the sun for several hours was unbelievable. I would feel sick every time I went in or out. On Friday I would drive the two hours back to the ranch where it would be hot and sticky. As the summer went on, the situation became a grind, but we saw no choice other than to push on. “Be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord” -- Romans 12:11
One week Sally Jo and the children made a poster of the fruit of the Spirit. On the paper tree they put cut out fruit labeled “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control” -- Galatians 5:22. Later she shared with me that when the children were cutting out and labeling the fruit, one of the girls asked, “why doesn't daddy have these?'
I felt weak! In that summer's grind to keep up with life, I had forgotten what was most important. This question, asked 30 years ago, remains heavy on my heart.
In my desire to be “fervent in spirit, serving the Lord”, I had trampled the truth that serving is to be filled with His spirit, and that the fruit of His Spirit should flow out of me, most importantly to my family. Jonathan Edwards said, “The Holy Spirit gives us the power and strength enough to overcome our weak inclinations so that these holy exercises will prevail over our weaknesses.” The Holy Spirit gives us the power and strength, but we must be intentional about becoming Christ like, about living the fruit of His Spirit.
Thankfully, our children told me long ago that I have changed.
Hopefully, I am still growing in the fruit of the Holy Spirit as I live In Partnership With God
We rented a cabin on a lake 15 minutes from the ranch. The one room cabin had an enclosed porch and a small bathroom with sink, shower…and a toilet that was to be hooked up soon, but never was. The outhouse worked. Our three children slept on the porch. Sally Jo and I slept in the one room – the foot of our bed against the refrigerator. The cabin was on a small peninsula which provided privacy and an occasional breeze.
On a weekday night, when I was in Dallas, Sally Jo and our children heard a boat go along the shore around the peninsula. Several men were gigging for frogs and obviously drunk. Talk about feeling vulnerable!!!
Five mornings each week Sally Jo gathered together everything needed for the day. At the ranch she would supervise the 5 acre garden, help in the camp store – do what was ever necessary. Our oldest daughter, Carla, loved to work in the barn. Jenna and Dirk would stick with mom, or play with other staff kids. After lunch Sally Jo and the kids had an hour together with other staff in the beautiful swimming pool. When at the ranch, there was no place we could call our own that summer.
Every Monday morning I would drive the two hours into Dallas to work in office. During the week I would write notes on contributions, write checks, keep up with government contributed surplus food forms, talk with camper parents - and work out of the office with donors, Sky Ranch Board members. I would speak occasionally. Most evenings I would go to our empty home, fix some food, do more paper work, and go to bed. I pushed hard so I could get back to the ranch on Friday as early as possible. All of this was made tougher because the Dallas office building was air-conditioned to 68 degrees, the outside temperature would be over 100, and the temperature within a car that had been sitting in the sun for several hours was unbelievable. I would feel sick every time I went in or out. On Friday I would drive the two hours back to the ranch where it would be hot and sticky. As the summer went on, the situation became a grind, but we saw no choice other than to push on. “Be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord” -- Romans 12:11
One week Sally Jo and the children made a poster of the fruit of the Spirit. On the paper tree they put cut out fruit labeled “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control” -- Galatians 5:22. Later she shared with me that when the children were cutting out and labeling the fruit, one of the girls asked, “why doesn't daddy have these?'
I felt weak! In that summer's grind to keep up with life, I had forgotten what was most important. This question, asked 30 years ago, remains heavy on my heart.
In my desire to be “fervent in spirit, serving the Lord”, I had trampled the truth that serving is to be filled with His spirit, and that the fruit of His Spirit should flow out of me, most importantly to my family. Jonathan Edwards said, “The Holy Spirit gives us the power and strength enough to overcome our weak inclinations so that these holy exercises will prevail over our weaknesses.” The Holy Spirit gives us the power and strength, but we must be intentional about becoming Christ like, about living the fruit of His Spirit.
Thankfully, our children told me long ago that I have changed.
Hopefully, I am still growing in the fruit of the Holy Spirit as I live In Partnership With God
Monday, March 22, 2010
Ted Clifford, a Porter #91
Sometime after I became Executive Director of Sky Ranch, I was introduced to Darryl Lafitte, the President of North Dallas Bank and Trust, where Sky Ranch did its banking. Darryl was a Christian who appreciated what Sky Ranch was seeking to do, and he also knew the financial situation Sky Ranch was in. After a year, we had developed a comfortable relationship, so when his secretary called and said that Mr. Lafitte would like me to come to his office, I was not surprised.
When I arrived, he said there was a business man with an office in the bank tower who would like to meet me. So, up the elevator I went to meet Ted Clifford. His secretary said Mr. Clifford was expecting me, and to go on into his office. He introduced himself, and asked me to have a seat.
Ted asked me to tell him about Sky Ranch. As I talked about the purpose and program of Sky Ranch, he asked a few questions. I then asked him what he did, and he told me he was the President of Majestic Oil and Gas Company. In the conversation that followed he told me about the cobbler’s last (the form around which a cobbler built a shoe) that was in his bedroom, next to his closet door. He said that every time he went into his closet, he was reminded of the words: “cobbler, stick to thy last”. Ted knew one business, and apparently knew it well.
As I was leaving, Ted asked me to keep in touch, which I did. In the early months of that third year, when all bills were being paid, but salaries were again close to being unpaid, Sky Ranch received a check for $10,000 from Majestic Oil and Gas Company.
With the receipt in hand I went to thank Ted for the contribution. He welcomed me to his office and when I had thanked him, he said:
“I try to always keep in mind the answer the train porter gave to the question ‘and what do you do?’ The porter responded ‘I takes care of whatever the Boss gives me, till we gets to the end of the line.’”
“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful” -- I Corinthians 4:2
This was the last large contribution for operations Sky Ranch received or needed, to the best of my knowledge.
When I arrived, he said there was a business man with an office in the bank tower who would like to meet me. So, up the elevator I went to meet Ted Clifford. His secretary said Mr. Clifford was expecting me, and to go on into his office. He introduced himself, and asked me to have a seat.
Ted asked me to tell him about Sky Ranch. As I talked about the purpose and program of Sky Ranch, he asked a few questions. I then asked him what he did, and he told me he was the President of Majestic Oil and Gas Company. In the conversation that followed he told me about the cobbler’s last (the form around which a cobbler built a shoe) that was in his bedroom, next to his closet door. He said that every time he went into his closet, he was reminded of the words: “cobbler, stick to thy last”. Ted knew one business, and apparently knew it well.
As I was leaving, Ted asked me to keep in touch, which I did. In the early months of that third year, when all bills were being paid, but salaries were again close to being unpaid, Sky Ranch received a check for $10,000 from Majestic Oil and Gas Company.
With the receipt in hand I went to thank Ted for the contribution. He welcomed me to his office and when I had thanked him, he said:
“I try to always keep in mind the answer the train porter gave to the question ‘and what do you do?’ The porter responded ‘I takes care of whatever the Boss gives me, till we gets to the end of the line.’”
“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful” -- I Corinthians 4:2
This was the last large contribution for operations Sky Ranch received or needed, to the best of my knowledge.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Bob Kerstetter – Sent By God #90
Sky Ranch entered its third year at the new location with a fully functional operation: ministry, staff, and facility. But there was a long way to go! It is impossible to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to empty beds. With the new cabins, there were empty beds in summer camp and on school year retreat weekends, and there was essentially no week-day usage. The previous year at this time, Sky Ranch was truly broke! No more money, no more credit. As Sky went into 1977 current bills were being paid, but just barely.
When Bob Kerstetter walked into the Dallas ranch office in January, essentially all I wanted to was to get him out of the office as quickly as possible. In a recent conversation, Bob described how he must have looked 30 years before, when we met. “I would have had shaggy hair, wire rim glasses which were decidedly not stylish, and a lazy eye – which wandered all over the place. Let’s not talk about my clothes!”
Strange duck though he looked to be, in a few minutes Bob was giving me his brief sales pitch: He wanted Sky Ranch to pay him $50 for each time he was able to get an article into a regular publication of any kind. There would be no cost to Sky other than to pay him the $50 placement fee. He assured me his work would provide good exposure to the general public. In our recent conversation Bob said I actually told him he just did not fit the Sky Ranch image we were working hard to create. I probably did! Bob persisted until I agreed to his proposition – just to get him out of the office!
The next week Bob returned to the office to show me an excellent article he had written for the Dallas Morning News summer camp insert. $50 please! In the next few months Bob brought in 21 articles he had gotten published in a variety of locations. Here is one example of how he worked. Bob used the fact that Sky Ranch ran a soccer camp during its first week of the summer as his means of getting an interview with the announcer of the Dallas Tornado soccer team, an interview which was heard by several thousand soccer fans. Great response!
About a month after Bob had gotten me to agree to his proposition, Bob walked into my office with a huge smile. I knew he had something special to tell me. “I have hit gold this time!” Bob had talked with Joe Camp the co-writer and the director of For the Love of Benji, produced by Mulberry Square Productions of Dallas, Texas. Sky Ranch was the charity selected by Mulberry to benefit from the Premier screening of the movie in Dallas on June 10th. In almost every article or interview on the movie Joe Camp told why Sky Ranch was the charity chosen to financially benefit. What Mulberry did was give Sky Ranch a large block of tickets to use for fund raising purposes. When it was announced that Lassie and a large number of other Hollywood personalities would be coming for opening night, the tickets became very highly sought after. Talk about great publicity – and money! Suddenly every camper bed for the summer was booked.
Beginning in the fall, Sky Ranch was the chosen location for the Dallas Independent School District’s outdoor education program. They rented the facility for almost every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday through the school year. Sky Ranch was operating at capacity!
I had tried to send away the person God had chosen to be His means of providing for Sky Ranch, just because of his looks. I did not recognize him as person who lived In Partnership With God.
“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” I Samuel 16:7
When Bob Kerstetter walked into the Dallas ranch office in January, essentially all I wanted to was to get him out of the office as quickly as possible. In a recent conversation, Bob described how he must have looked 30 years before, when we met. “I would have had shaggy hair, wire rim glasses which were decidedly not stylish, and a lazy eye – which wandered all over the place. Let’s not talk about my clothes!”
Strange duck though he looked to be, in a few minutes Bob was giving me his brief sales pitch: He wanted Sky Ranch to pay him $50 for each time he was able to get an article into a regular publication of any kind. There would be no cost to Sky other than to pay him the $50 placement fee. He assured me his work would provide good exposure to the general public. In our recent conversation Bob said I actually told him he just did not fit the Sky Ranch image we were working hard to create. I probably did! Bob persisted until I agreed to his proposition – just to get him out of the office!
The next week Bob returned to the office to show me an excellent article he had written for the Dallas Morning News summer camp insert. $50 please! In the next few months Bob brought in 21 articles he had gotten published in a variety of locations. Here is one example of how he worked. Bob used the fact that Sky Ranch ran a soccer camp during its first week of the summer as his means of getting an interview with the announcer of the Dallas Tornado soccer team, an interview which was heard by several thousand soccer fans. Great response!
About a month after Bob had gotten me to agree to his proposition, Bob walked into my office with a huge smile. I knew he had something special to tell me. “I have hit gold this time!” Bob had talked with Joe Camp the co-writer and the director of For the Love of Benji, produced by Mulberry Square Productions of Dallas, Texas. Sky Ranch was the charity selected by Mulberry to benefit from the Premier screening of the movie in Dallas on June 10th. In almost every article or interview on the movie Joe Camp told why Sky Ranch was the charity chosen to financially benefit. What Mulberry did was give Sky Ranch a large block of tickets to use for fund raising purposes. When it was announced that Lassie and a large number of other Hollywood personalities would be coming for opening night, the tickets became very highly sought after. Talk about great publicity – and money! Suddenly every camper bed for the summer was booked.
Beginning in the fall, Sky Ranch was the chosen location for the Dallas Independent School District’s outdoor education program. They rented the facility for almost every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday through the school year. Sky Ranch was operating at capacity!
I had tried to send away the person God had chosen to be His means of providing for Sky Ranch, just because of his looks. I did not recognize him as person who lived In Partnership With God.
“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” I Samuel 16:7
Monday, March 8, 2010
My perspective on my living In Partnership With God #89
Please always remember that it is God who has directed my life, who has done the miracles I have experienced. What has happened has been God’s work – totally. We must never forget this. To God be the glory.
It would be easy to stop at this point and say “I have had no role to play”, but this is not true. Yes, God did it all, but I was the agent of what has happened. A person has been involved in every miracle: Noah, birth and sacrifice of Isaac, Joseph in Egypt, Moses in the desert, Joshua in battle, David as shepherd/king, Jesus birth, Paul’s missionary’s journeys, etc. God has not changed! God’s miracles today may not seem to be of the magnitude of those he did in Bible times, but the miracles I have experienced clearly demonstrate to many that God still performs miracles. God continues to remain interactive in the lives of His people.
So why has God chosen to use me as He has? If you are a Christian, ask yourself the same question. God has plans for each of our lives. Some of these plans are the same for every believer: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your strength. Love your neighbor as yourself” -- Mark 12:30-32. God may also put any of us on “special assignment”. On these “special assignments” we may be more likely to recognize God’s miracles, because without the miracles many of His assignments could never be done. Special assignment or not, I am sure we never recognize many of the miracles God does around us, and through us, which enable us to do His work in His way. I encourage you, during the coming week, to jot down when you believe God used you in the life of another. Also jot down when you feel God may have “stepped in” in a miraculous way.
As God’s man, I have faith in God, that He has a plan for my life and will do what He says He will do. This being true, there are many times I have not understood what God is doing, or not doing, but I hang on. God is faithful! Whereas I trust God, I do not have trust in myself. If I ask myself “Do I have enough faith to do what God has asked me to do?” I must acknowledge “I really do not know”. But, if I maintain my commitment of obedience to God, and continually seek to do what I believe God would have me do, I can relax. It is God’s responsibility to guide me and to enable me to do what He wants me to do. Sometimes God surprises me – He does “beyond what I can ask or think” -- Ephesians 3:20. But sometimes God disappoints me and I get frustrated and angry with Him. I have prayers that God has not answered for 30 years, prayers which, according to my understanding of the Bible, I think He should answer! At such times I try to remember God’s track record. I have made the decision: I belong to God. I must not chicken out when life is tough!!! I press on in faith.
I do not read my Bible daily, but I work at this. I do not spend hours in prayer as did Jesus, Martin Luther, and George Mueller, but I have prayed for an hour many times. As I talk to God, I am confident that God knows what is on my heart even before I open my mouth. Most of the time it is easy to praise God, tough to confess my sin, easy to thank Him for answering specific prayers, and when I make requests of God, it can be tough to trust God’s wisdom – “Thy will be done” -- Matthew 6:9. I share my thinking with God throughout the day. I pray when working driving, walking, sometimes silently, sometimes out loud.
These days God is not using me to preach very often, to heal, to put together a strong ministry – nothing dramatic. My guess is that I am living my life like many of you, one routine day after another. We are called to live with joyful hearts. May our lives be an accurate reflection of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is God’s responsibility to let us know if we should be on “special assignment” as we daily live In Partnership With God.
It would be easy to stop at this point and say “I have had no role to play”, but this is not true. Yes, God did it all, but I was the agent of what has happened. A person has been involved in every miracle: Noah, birth and sacrifice of Isaac, Joseph in Egypt, Moses in the desert, Joshua in battle, David as shepherd/king, Jesus birth, Paul’s missionary’s journeys, etc. God has not changed! God’s miracles today may not seem to be of the magnitude of those he did in Bible times, but the miracles I have experienced clearly demonstrate to many that God still performs miracles. God continues to remain interactive in the lives of His people.
So why has God chosen to use me as He has? If you are a Christian, ask yourself the same question. God has plans for each of our lives. Some of these plans are the same for every believer: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your strength. Love your neighbor as yourself” -- Mark 12:30-32. God may also put any of us on “special assignment”. On these “special assignments” we may be more likely to recognize God’s miracles, because without the miracles many of His assignments could never be done. Special assignment or not, I am sure we never recognize many of the miracles God does around us, and through us, which enable us to do His work in His way. I encourage you, during the coming week, to jot down when you believe God used you in the life of another. Also jot down when you feel God may have “stepped in” in a miraculous way.
As God’s man, I have faith in God, that He has a plan for my life and will do what He says He will do. This being true, there are many times I have not understood what God is doing, or not doing, but I hang on. God is faithful! Whereas I trust God, I do not have trust in myself. If I ask myself “Do I have enough faith to do what God has asked me to do?” I must acknowledge “I really do not know”. But, if I maintain my commitment of obedience to God, and continually seek to do what I believe God would have me do, I can relax. It is God’s responsibility to guide me and to enable me to do what He wants me to do. Sometimes God surprises me – He does “beyond what I can ask or think” -- Ephesians 3:20. But sometimes God disappoints me and I get frustrated and angry with Him. I have prayers that God has not answered for 30 years, prayers which, according to my understanding of the Bible, I think He should answer! At such times I try to remember God’s track record. I have made the decision: I belong to God. I must not chicken out when life is tough!!! I press on in faith.
I do not read my Bible daily, but I work at this. I do not spend hours in prayer as did Jesus, Martin Luther, and George Mueller, but I have prayed for an hour many times. As I talk to God, I am confident that God knows what is on my heart even before I open my mouth. Most of the time it is easy to praise God, tough to confess my sin, easy to thank Him for answering specific prayers, and when I make requests of God, it can be tough to trust God’s wisdom – “Thy will be done” -- Matthew 6:9. I share my thinking with God throughout the day. I pray when working driving, walking, sometimes silently, sometimes out loud.
These days God is not using me to preach very often, to heal, to put together a strong ministry – nothing dramatic. My guess is that I am living my life like many of you, one routine day after another. We are called to live with joyful hearts. May our lives be an accurate reflection of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is God’s responsibility to let us know if we should be on “special assignment” as we daily live In Partnership With God.
Monday, January 18, 2010
God's Ministry or Ours? #88
The Sky Ranch Board of Directors was to meet on March 18, at which time they would put together the necessary funds, not only to solve the immediate crisis, but to help prevent this from happening again. The Board members realized solving the problem was essential for them as they had joint and several liability for bank loans totaling $500,000. If the ranch declared bankruptcy, the loans would be "called."
Every member of the Board of Directors was present for the meeting. I was asked a few questions, and then the Board members entered into a very intense, very personal discussion. After two hours with no progress, I said to the Board that the office of the CEO of an international bakery had called to set up an appointment for me to meet with him. The meeting was in 30 minutes. Nobody on the Sky Ranch Board knew the man. As I stood to leave I said: "Sky Ranch is either God's ministry or our ministry. If it is not the Lord's, we might just as well find out now."
When I arrived, I was taken to the CEO's office by his administrative assistant. He invited me to take a seat, and asked me to tell him about Sky Ranch. He then asked, "How can I help?" Suddenly I felt like Nehemiah before the King and quickly prayed "Help!" I had not expected the question, but responded that perhaps he could help in three ways. I explained that Sky Ranch needed $30,000, and told him why. He picked up his telephone, dialed a number, and said, "Please draw up a check payable to Sky Ranch for $30,000 and bring it to my office. Thanks." Without a smile the CEO asked me, "How else can I help?" I said I thought a company this big might have things they are not using that would be a great help to Sky Ranch. If there was, I would find a truck to pick them up. The CEO dialed a number, "In a few minutes I will send to you Chuck Gieser, Director of Sky Ranch. Please take him through these specific warehouses. Let's make available to Sky Ranch anything we will not use in the next six months. Have what is chosen delivered to Sky Ranch." He then asked, "Chuck, how else can I help?" I asked if he could become a member of the Sky Ranch Board of Directors, and gave a specific reason which had nothing to do with money or things. He responded with his first smile: "Chuck, I would like to, but my time simply does not permit it."
I stood up to thank him and he asked "What is your hurry? Please sit down." He went on to say, "Chuck, another cabin would provide additional income to Sky Ranch. What does a cabin cost?" I told him they cost about $25,000 and explained the cabins are duplexes with central air conditioning and heat so they could be used by campers in the summer, retreat groups at other times. Each side was fully furnished for twelve people. He responded with, "Build one, and send me the bill."
In fifteen minutes I was out of the CEO's office with a check for $30,000, his promise to pay for the building of another cabin, and being taken to four warehouses where I identified a tractor trailer load of equipment that would be put to immediate use at the ranch including an ice maker, office desks, and huge steel bins the bakery used for the raising of dough, great for storing horse feed!
The Board meeting provided no solution to the financial crisis, but God did. Sky Ranch was God's ministry.
When we live In Partnership With God, let us remember:
Every member of the Board of Directors was present for the meeting. I was asked a few questions, and then the Board members entered into a very intense, very personal discussion. After two hours with no progress, I said to the Board that the office of the CEO of an international bakery had called to set up an appointment for me to meet with him. The meeting was in 30 minutes. Nobody on the Sky Ranch Board knew the man. As I stood to leave I said: "Sky Ranch is either God's ministry or our ministry. If it is not the Lord's, we might just as well find out now."
When I arrived, I was taken to the CEO's office by his administrative assistant. He invited me to take a seat, and asked me to tell him about Sky Ranch. He then asked, "How can I help?" Suddenly I felt like Nehemiah before the King and quickly prayed "Help!" I had not expected the question, but responded that perhaps he could help in three ways. I explained that Sky Ranch needed $30,000, and told him why. He picked up his telephone, dialed a number, and said, "Please draw up a check payable to Sky Ranch for $30,000 and bring it to my office. Thanks." Without a smile the CEO asked me, "How else can I help?" I said I thought a company this big might have things they are not using that would be a great help to Sky Ranch. If there was, I would find a truck to pick them up. The CEO dialed a number, "In a few minutes I will send to you Chuck Gieser, Director of Sky Ranch. Please take him through these specific warehouses. Let's make available to Sky Ranch anything we will not use in the next six months. Have what is chosen delivered to Sky Ranch." He then asked, "Chuck, how else can I help?" I asked if he could become a member of the Sky Ranch Board of Directors, and gave a specific reason which had nothing to do with money or things. He responded with his first smile: "Chuck, I would like to, but my time simply does not permit it."
I stood up to thank him and he asked "What is your hurry? Please sit down." He went on to say, "Chuck, another cabin would provide additional income to Sky Ranch. What does a cabin cost?" I told him they cost about $25,000 and explained the cabins are duplexes with central air conditioning and heat so they could be used by campers in the summer, retreat groups at other times. Each side was fully furnished for twelve people. He responded with, "Build one, and send me the bill."
In fifteen minutes I was out of the CEO's office with a check for $30,000, his promise to pay for the building of another cabin, and being taken to four warehouses where I identified a tractor trailer load of equipment that would be put to immediate use at the ranch including an ice maker, office desks, and huge steel bins the bakery used for the raising of dough, great for storing horse feed!
The Board meeting provided no solution to the financial crisis, but God did. Sky Ranch was God's ministry.
When we live In Partnership With God, let us remember:
- "How great are God's riches! How deep are his wisdom and knowledge! Who can explain his decisions? Who can understand his ways?" -- Romans 11:33
- "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." -- Ephesians 3:20-21
Monday, January 11, 2010
God's Guidance and Provision! Provision? #87
As we entered our second year at Sky Ranch, we looked back at our first year with hearts filled with thanksgiving. Yes, it was an intense year, but God had confirmed over and over again that we were where He wanted us to be:
In the fall we hired Ricky and Alice, a young couple who wanted to be in Christian ministry. Ricky's dream was to become a pastor. They both were willing to do whatever needed to be done. Our daughter remembers that Ricky could ride a horse at full gallop, swing down from his saddle and pick up a cowboy hat on the ground.
Contributions, camper fees and Sky Ranch Board member-secured loans carried us through to the end of the year, and the Board was confident that year-end contributions would be good. But the economy in Dallas was sputtering: empty office and apartment space practically stopped commercial construction. People were uneasy. Year end contributions were poor. The Board reminded me that funding was their responsibility, and though they were stopping further camper/retreat cabin construction, I should continue to work on preparation for the coming summer. Contributions stopped, and further borrowing secured by Board of Director members was impossible as several worked in commercial real estate development. Soon Sky Ranch was unable to pay bills, and vendors required cash on delivery. All retreat income had to go toward essentials.
After meeting with the Dallas office staff, Sally Jo and I met with the five ranch staff. I explained that I was no longer receiving a pay check, and asked them to tell me before the end of the day how much money each of them needed to keep going. I saw Ricky and Alice talking intensely. Then Ricky said "Chuck, since we live here at camp and can eat dining hall leftovers, if someone will let us use their washer and dryer, we do not need any money."
As days moved into weeks, and still no paychecks, no financial relief, I often thought about the Israelite people: After 430 years, they were finally leaving Egypt. God had provided them Moses, and then the miracles of the plagues, ending with the Passover. God had led His people into the desert with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night. When they were caught between Pharaoh's pursuing army and the Red Sea, they had seen God part the waters for them to pass, and then bring the water back to drown the army that was very close behind them. These people had experienced God's care and provision, yet within three days after experiencing the parting of the sea, they were grumbling at Moses and God, for they had no water to drink. Did they really think God was unaware of this fact?
We did not want to be like the Israelite people. If God had provided, we should be thankful that He would continue to do so. But after six weeks, personal reserves were gone and we were changing our thinking from "Lord, we await your provision" to "Lord, have you forgotten us?" Would the ranch have to close, and we find new work? Was this what it meant to Live In Partnership With God?
- Our wonderful home was affordable and in a great location.
- Our three children had settled into their new schools.
- Sally Jo had located everything from the grocery store to new doctors
- My relationship with the Sky Ranch Board of Directors was good
- Sky Ranch had excellent first year "permanent" and summer staff able to deal with changes and challenges
- Rain had stopped construction, but filled the lake. We prayed, God stopped the rain, construction continued
- An increasing number of campers each session filled each new cabin as it was completed
- Though we shared the camp with copperheads and scorpions, only one (disobedient) camper had been bitten.
- God provided Gladys Lankford and Walter Hodges whose example, counsel, and generosity lifted our spirits.
In the fall we hired Ricky and Alice, a young couple who wanted to be in Christian ministry. Ricky's dream was to become a pastor. They both were willing to do whatever needed to be done. Our daughter remembers that Ricky could ride a horse at full gallop, swing down from his saddle and pick up a cowboy hat on the ground.
Contributions, camper fees and Sky Ranch Board member-secured loans carried us through to the end of the year, and the Board was confident that year-end contributions would be good. But the economy in Dallas was sputtering: empty office and apartment space practically stopped commercial construction. People were uneasy. Year end contributions were poor. The Board reminded me that funding was their responsibility, and though they were stopping further camper/retreat cabin construction, I should continue to work on preparation for the coming summer. Contributions stopped, and further borrowing secured by Board of Director members was impossible as several worked in commercial real estate development. Soon Sky Ranch was unable to pay bills, and vendors required cash on delivery. All retreat income had to go toward essentials.
After meeting with the Dallas office staff, Sally Jo and I met with the five ranch staff. I explained that I was no longer receiving a pay check, and asked them to tell me before the end of the day how much money each of them needed to keep going. I saw Ricky and Alice talking intensely. Then Ricky said "Chuck, since we live here at camp and can eat dining hall leftovers, if someone will let us use their washer and dryer, we do not need any money."
As days moved into weeks, and still no paychecks, no financial relief, I often thought about the Israelite people: After 430 years, they were finally leaving Egypt. God had provided them Moses, and then the miracles of the plagues, ending with the Passover. God had led His people into the desert with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night. When they were caught between Pharaoh's pursuing army and the Red Sea, they had seen God part the waters for them to pass, and then bring the water back to drown the army that was very close behind them. These people had experienced God's care and provision, yet within three days after experiencing the parting of the sea, they were grumbling at Moses and God, for they had no water to drink. Did they really think God was unaware of this fact?
We did not want to be like the Israelite people. If God had provided, we should be thankful that He would continue to do so. But after six weeks, personal reserves were gone and we were changing our thinking from "Lord, we await your provision" to "Lord, have you forgotten us?" Would the ranch have to close, and we find new work? Was this what it meant to Live In Partnership With God?
Monday, January 4, 2010
Walter and Bonnie - Small Gifts, Great Impact #86
Walter and Bonnie Hodges retired to a small house on a few acres three miles from Sky Ranch. Walter had been an insurance agent in the Dallas area and had some knowledge of the ministry. When they bought their "homestead" it already had a root cellar, garden plot, blackberry patch, and persimmon, pecan and holly trees. To this they added beds of iris, daffodils and a cow named Trilby. Their life was simple, yet rich in many ways.
A couple weeks before camp was to open the first summer, Walter drove up in his cream colored 1965 Chevy pick-up. With his warm smile, he asked if he could look around. About an hour later Walter returned to report that the wire mesh under the mattresses on the old army bunk beds was sagging because the side springs were stretched out. He suggested the side springs could be replaced with wire to help solve the problem. He then offered to do the work. When I pointed out that there were over 200 bunks, each with four springs, he said he thought he could do it over time. Six days a week he worked for a couple hours, eat the lunch he had brought, and work a couple more hours. Each session more campers came, and Walter had the bunks ready.
When he learned that Sally Jo wanted to plant a five acre garden to teach gardening to the staff and campers and provide fresh vegetables for the kitchen, Walter was there to coach her. Every morning he came to help in the garden and work on the bunks, always wearing a smile and an old white shirt, dark pants, and a straw hat. Throughout the long growing season the garden produced more tomatoes than the campers could eat, plus potatoes, carrots, beans, squash, corn, cucumbers and okra,
Walter invited us to come by his house to meet Bonnie. Repeatedly through our seven years at Sky Ranch our family would stop by their house for a brief visit, and every time we stopped by, they gave us something: "go pick yourselves as many berries as you like", "please pick yourselves some flowers"," here is a bottle of jam", "please enjoy a gallon of Trilby's milk", "the persimmons are ripe - take a few", "Christmas is coming, enjoy this beautiful holly".
Our three children always wanted to go to visit them - and to see what surprise they had for us. These visits were full of kidding and laughter and our family became very close to Walter and Bonnie. This relationship lifted our spirits!!
When Bonnie had a stroke, Walter placed a hospital bed in their living room, and focused all of his attention on caring for Bonnie, necessarily neglecting their little "estate". We stepped up the regularity of our visits. The laughter and sharing continued.
Over several months Bonnie's condition worsened, and we watched Walter's health and strength gradually decline as he worked long hours caring for the wife he had loved for over 50 years. When Bonnie died, Walter was completely worn out. He assured us he would be like his neglected tomato plants: with care, sunshine and time he would be fine.
Seven years after we left Sky Ranch, our family was able to travel around the country in a borrowed RV. We were all looking forward to seeing Walter, particularly daughter Jenna who had been corresponding with him while in college. Two weeks before we were to visit Walter, he died. His son told us his father wanted us to have his 1965 Chevy pickup. We pulled the rust free truck behind the 43 foot RV from Mineola, Texas to our home in New York where son Dirk rebuilt the truck to original condition - except for replacing the oak bed with one made of bird?s eye maple and cherry. We continue to enjoy the truck and remember Walter and Bonnie with happy hearts.
Living In Partnership With God requires only that we give ourselves to God. What would God have us do with our lives? Use what He has entrusted to us. When we do, this will bring God joy, and God will use us to enrich the lives of others.
"Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." -- Matthew 5:16
A couple weeks before camp was to open the first summer, Walter drove up in his cream colored 1965 Chevy pick-up. With his warm smile, he asked if he could look around. About an hour later Walter returned to report that the wire mesh under the mattresses on the old army bunk beds was sagging because the side springs were stretched out. He suggested the side springs could be replaced with wire to help solve the problem. He then offered to do the work. When I pointed out that there were over 200 bunks, each with four springs, he said he thought he could do it over time. Six days a week he worked for a couple hours, eat the lunch he had brought, and work a couple more hours. Each session more campers came, and Walter had the bunks ready.
When he learned that Sally Jo wanted to plant a five acre garden to teach gardening to the staff and campers and provide fresh vegetables for the kitchen, Walter was there to coach her. Every morning he came to help in the garden and work on the bunks, always wearing a smile and an old white shirt, dark pants, and a straw hat. Throughout the long growing season the garden produced more tomatoes than the campers could eat, plus potatoes, carrots, beans, squash, corn, cucumbers and okra,
Walter invited us to come by his house to meet Bonnie. Repeatedly through our seven years at Sky Ranch our family would stop by their house for a brief visit, and every time we stopped by, they gave us something: "go pick yourselves as many berries as you like", "please pick yourselves some flowers"," here is a bottle of jam", "please enjoy a gallon of Trilby's milk", "the persimmons are ripe - take a few", "Christmas is coming, enjoy this beautiful holly".
Our three children always wanted to go to visit them - and to see what surprise they had for us. These visits were full of kidding and laughter and our family became very close to Walter and Bonnie. This relationship lifted our spirits!!
When Bonnie had a stroke, Walter placed a hospital bed in their living room, and focused all of his attention on caring for Bonnie, necessarily neglecting their little "estate". We stepped up the regularity of our visits. The laughter and sharing continued.
Over several months Bonnie's condition worsened, and we watched Walter's health and strength gradually decline as he worked long hours caring for the wife he had loved for over 50 years. When Bonnie died, Walter was completely worn out. He assured us he would be like his neglected tomato plants: with care, sunshine and time he would be fine.
Seven years after we left Sky Ranch, our family was able to travel around the country in a borrowed RV. We were all looking forward to seeing Walter, particularly daughter Jenna who had been corresponding with him while in college. Two weeks before we were to visit Walter, he died. His son told us his father wanted us to have his 1965 Chevy pickup. We pulled the rust free truck behind the 43 foot RV from Mineola, Texas to our home in New York where son Dirk rebuilt the truck to original condition - except for replacing the oak bed with one made of bird?s eye maple and cherry. We continue to enjoy the truck and remember Walter and Bonnie with happy hearts.
Living In Partnership With God requires only that we give ourselves to God. What would God have us do with our lives? Use what He has entrusted to us. When we do, this will bring God joy, and God will use us to enrich the lives of others.
"Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." -- Matthew 5:16
Monday, December 28, 2009
The Process of Obedience to God Includes... #85
Summer camp was tough. Everything about camp was new to us: the year around employees and summer staff, the program, the unfinished facility, the food, etc. Sally Jo began five mornings a week working with campers in the 5 acre garden - tomatoes, potatoes, okra, and much more. With summer camp having just begun, Larry and Barbara Brooks and their daughter, friends from our two years in Murfreesboro, arrived to run the craft program for two months. Larry taught art at Middle Tennessee State University. Bill and Vodie Schwantes arrived. Bill, but he was a highly recommended, recently retired business manager from another Christian ministry. While Sally Jo and our three children remained at camp, early each Monday morning I returned to Dallas for a Sky Ranch Board of Director's meeting and to talk with parents, donors, potential rental group leaders, pay bills, etc. Early each Friday Morning I would head back for a busy weekend at camp, stopping at the Dallas farmers market to fill the station wagon with fresh produce.
The days were hot!! (One summer it never went below 100 degrees, day or night, for 30 days!) Every Sunday afternoon Sally Jo and I met the campers and their families at the entrance of the parking lot. Try standing for two hours on hot black top in the hot sun in cowboy boots, jeans, red and white checked shirts and cowboy hats. The sweat runs down your legs into your boots!
Summer camp was tough, yet rewarding. Most of the campers came from churches which taught the Bible, but many of these same campers did not understand God's plan of salvation. Hearts were open to hear this good news, and without any pressure, it was often a simple process to lead these children to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, and to encourage their continued walk as God's children.
When September came, the heat subsided, but the work continued. As a family we stayed in Dallas from Saturday or Sunday evening through Friday after school - then back to the ranch to welcome a weekend retreat group, and to work in the garden, the store, the dining hall, or with the horses - whatever was required to support retreat groups from Young Life Clubs and many churches. Sally Jo and I also led two weekend "family retreats" during the school year.
In the midst of the daily operation of the ministry, Sally Jo's diary reminded me that in the fall I left for 4 days to teach previously scheduled Christian Education work shops in West Virginia and North Carolina, and at another time, in Tennessee. We had a steady flow of family, and friends from our days in AL, CT, TN, and IL - over 30, some for several nights. This required keeping our home in Dallas and the trailer at the ranch ready for guests all of the time. Add to this the school functions of three children, caring for a occasional sick child, speaking on behalf of Sky Ranch, participating in church activities when possible, building relationships with immediate neighbors, and going to Sky Ranch board member's homes for dinner - with many enjoying dinner in our home. It was a crazy pace to live week after week.
Our stability and sanity as a family were greatly enhanced by singing in the car going to and from the ranch, and when possible, making a stop along the way for something fun - a salt festival, the largest flea market in the country, a small town rodeo, a unique place to eat. On slow weekends we would swim, take canoe rides and ride horses together. We were able to take a two week family trip to Florida where both of our parents had condominiums and we spent two weekends alone at our pediatrician's cabin.
When we live In Partnership With God, much of life is a daily discipline - nothing dramatic. Noah was considered a righteous man, yet there is no indication that Noah found life any different (Genesis 6). We read that Moses experienced several "God interventions", but it was over a span of 40 years with the Israelites in the desert (Exodus 12 - 40). It is easy to forget that Paul was beaten five times with 39 lashes, 3 times with a rod, stoned and left for dead, three times ship wrecked, and he spent several years in prison (I Corinthians 11). Tradition says Paul was beheaded.
Let us all press on in obedience to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - regardless.
The days were hot!! (One summer it never went below 100 degrees, day or night, for 30 days!) Every Sunday afternoon Sally Jo and I met the campers and their families at the entrance of the parking lot. Try standing for two hours on hot black top in the hot sun in cowboy boots, jeans, red and white checked shirts and cowboy hats. The sweat runs down your legs into your boots!
Summer camp was tough, yet rewarding. Most of the campers came from churches which taught the Bible, but many of these same campers did not understand God's plan of salvation. Hearts were open to hear this good news, and without any pressure, it was often a simple process to lead these children to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, and to encourage their continued walk as God's children.
When September came, the heat subsided, but the work continued. As a family we stayed in Dallas from Saturday or Sunday evening through Friday after school - then back to the ranch to welcome a weekend retreat group, and to work in the garden, the store, the dining hall, or with the horses - whatever was required to support retreat groups from Young Life Clubs and many churches. Sally Jo and I also led two weekend "family retreats" during the school year.
In the midst of the daily operation of the ministry, Sally Jo's diary reminded me that in the fall I left for 4 days to teach previously scheduled Christian Education work shops in West Virginia and North Carolina, and at another time, in Tennessee. We had a steady flow of family, and friends from our days in AL, CT, TN, and IL - over 30, some for several nights. This required keeping our home in Dallas and the trailer at the ranch ready for guests all of the time. Add to this the school functions of three children, caring for a occasional sick child, speaking on behalf of Sky Ranch, participating in church activities when possible, building relationships with immediate neighbors, and going to Sky Ranch board member's homes for dinner - with many enjoying dinner in our home. It was a crazy pace to live week after week.
Our stability and sanity as a family were greatly enhanced by singing in the car going to and from the ranch, and when possible, making a stop along the way for something fun - a salt festival, the largest flea market in the country, a small town rodeo, a unique place to eat. On slow weekends we would swim, take canoe rides and ride horses together. We were able to take a two week family trip to Florida where both of our parents had condominiums and we spent two weekends alone at our pediatrician's cabin.
When we live In Partnership With God, much of life is a daily discipline - nothing dramatic. Noah was considered a righteous man, yet there is no indication that Noah found life any different (Genesis 6). We read that Moses experienced several "God interventions", but it was over a span of 40 years with the Israelites in the desert (Exodus 12 - 40). It is easy to forget that Paul was beaten five times with 39 lashes, 3 times with a rod, stoned and left for dead, three times ship wrecked, and he spent several years in prison (I Corinthians 11). Tradition says Paul was beheaded.
Let us all press on in obedience to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - regardless.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Moses' Rod - A Valued Gift #84
Randy came to serve as the camp cook for the summer. He was a reasonably good cook, an excellent cook considering the fact that his kitchen consisted of 4 home type refrigerators, 4 chest freezers, and the stove/griddle/oven unit and huge mixer from the old camp in an unfinished building without air conditioning. He had not worked with any of the food vendors and he had no experienced help.
Randy started the summer cooking for 30 staff members under a 12' X 12' tarp. By summer's end he was cooking for 150 in one end of the future craft building. He never complained. I am sure his physical toughness from being a wrestler enabled him to survive - while preparing good food meal after meal, day after day.
None of the staff had ever worked together before. In fact every staff person was new to the situation, including me. I had never directed a camp before. Monty, who was 22, had been program director at the old camp and knew his position well. He was the only staff member who did.
It was a tough summer, as you can imagine. I was not focused on good management technique, but on being sure the campers had a wonderful, safe experience. This was a real challenge with a new staff, unproven horses, copper heads in the camp (we killed 28 during the summer), scorpions in the buildings, and snakes in the lake. We not only survived, but the campers had such a good time that they returned the next summer, bringing their friends.
When camp ended and we were shutting down for a couple months so more of the camp could be completed, Randy asked for a few minutes when we could talk together. Soon we had the one-on-one time he requested.
Randy gave me a carefully chosen stick with a knob on the end - fastened by two leader strips to a weathered board two feet long.
Randy explained that it was to represent Moses' Rod, and was to remind me that there were times when it was not necessary for Moses to hit the rock to bring forth water. All that Moses had to do was speak to the rock. He went on to say, "Chuck, there are times when only a few words are necessary to make your point."
I have kept his gift hanging on the wall of my office - a constant reminder from a gentle servant.
Randy started the summer cooking for 30 staff members under a 12' X 12' tarp. By summer's end he was cooking for 150 in one end of the future craft building. He never complained. I am sure his physical toughness from being a wrestler enabled him to survive - while preparing good food meal after meal, day after day.
None of the staff had ever worked together before. In fact every staff person was new to the situation, including me. I had never directed a camp before. Monty, who was 22, had been program director at the old camp and knew his position well. He was the only staff member who did.
It was a tough summer, as you can imagine. I was not focused on good management technique, but on being sure the campers had a wonderful, safe experience. This was a real challenge with a new staff, unproven horses, copper heads in the camp (we killed 28 during the summer), scorpions in the buildings, and snakes in the lake. We not only survived, but the campers had such a good time that they returned the next summer, bringing their friends.
When camp ended and we were shutting down for a couple months so more of the camp could be completed, Randy asked for a few minutes when we could talk together. Soon we had the one-on-one time he requested.
Randy gave me a carefully chosen stick with a knob on the end - fastened by two leader strips to a weathered board two feet long.
Randy explained that it was to represent Moses' Rod, and was to remind me that there were times when it was not necessary for Moses to hit the rock to bring forth water. All that Moses had to do was speak to the rock. He went on to say, "Chuck, there are times when only a few words are necessary to make your point."
I have kept his gift hanging on the wall of my office - a constant reminder from a gentle servant.
Monday, December 7, 2009
We Are Glad for This #83
Kaleo Lodge was a small, beautiful retreat, located two miles from Sky Ranch. The only time I was there, a 5' tall white haired lady introduced herself: "I am Gladys Lankford. Everyone calls me Glad, and I would like to help at Sky Ranch. I am 81 years old, and as long as the Lord lets me live, I will serve Him." I asked what she would like to do: "I can do most anything you want me to do. My husband, Bud, who has gone home to be with the Lord, and I owned the drug store in Mineola (15 miles away), and my husband was also the Post Master." I promised to give her a call.
During staff training the T-shirts and other supplies arrived for the camp store - a building from the old ranch so small it came over on a truck. I called Glad and she arrived in a tired looking car a couple hours later. I showed her the boxes and the shelves, and soon this feisty lady was unpacking boxes, organizing their contents on the shelves. Glad returned the next day, and the next, until the task was finished. One day when I stopped by to see how she was doing, she asked about Sky Ranch: Its purpose, its history, and its plans for the future. She had heard rumors that Sky Ranch was somehow involved with problem kids - a rehabilitation place, or something like that. I explained that I was aware of this misconception, and we were asking people known in the surrounding communities to run advertisements telling that Sky Ranch, a Christian ministry, was re-locating in the area and they were pleased to welcome Sky Ranch. Glad offered to sponsor an advertisement in the Mineola paper - and assured me that everyone knew her! I asked if she was sure she should do this - each advertisement in a local paper cost about $100. She said she thought she could handle it.
Just before the campers were to arrive she noticed camp did not have a "refrigerated water fountain." She asked me to buy one, and she would pay for it. When camp started, she could see she was no longer needed and quietly stepped out of the picture. I was curious about Glad so went by her home, a small two bedroom brick house.
In the fall she returned to ask if she could sell things in the store. I really hesitated, as Glad had strong opinions which she was very happy to share when she felt it appropriate. But...how could I say no? Young Life rented the facility for the first retreat weekend and, just as I feared, Glad soon lecturing a high school student who smoked!!!!! I cringed! However high school kids loved her, and soon were asking her questions about what life was like when she grew up. Glad told how the first time she drove a car, she drove it through a store window. And how nice girls rode side saddle, but she rode "astride" so she could ride faster. Glad laughed as she remembered, and those around her laughed with the fun, little lady.
After the first weekend retreat she told me to buy a piano. A piano? "Well, you don't have one in that conference building. Buy a good one, and I will pay for it!" Glad...are you sure? "Buy a good piano!" And so we did. A year later she told me to build a maintenance building. "Build what you need. I'll pay for it." We had plans drawn for a building adequate for the future needs of the camp. Glad had no interest in seeing the plans, nor did she have any interest in being recognized for her giving.
Our daughter, Carla, was the first chair cellist with a high school orchestra that was going to Vienna, Austria for an orchestra competition. When Glad learned about the competition, she told our daughter, with Sally Jo and me present, to have her cello teacher pick out a good cello, one appropriate to her ability, and she would pay for it.
Glad, Sally Jo and I became very close, and after six years we took her to see Wheaton College, which she had supported, but never seen. During the hours we talked, she told us she was giving away $28,000 a month! Oil money she called her "unearned increment." Glad enjoyed giving: giving herself and her resources.
Gladys Lankford lived In Partnership With God, and did not need the praise of men.
Glad lived by her favorite verse: "This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be Glad in it." -- Psalm 118:24
During staff training the T-shirts and other supplies arrived for the camp store - a building from the old ranch so small it came over on a truck. I called Glad and she arrived in a tired looking car a couple hours later. I showed her the boxes and the shelves, and soon this feisty lady was unpacking boxes, organizing their contents on the shelves. Glad returned the next day, and the next, until the task was finished. One day when I stopped by to see how she was doing, she asked about Sky Ranch: Its purpose, its history, and its plans for the future. She had heard rumors that Sky Ranch was somehow involved with problem kids - a rehabilitation place, or something like that. I explained that I was aware of this misconception, and we were asking people known in the surrounding communities to run advertisements telling that Sky Ranch, a Christian ministry, was re-locating in the area and they were pleased to welcome Sky Ranch. Glad offered to sponsor an advertisement in the Mineola paper - and assured me that everyone knew her! I asked if she was sure she should do this - each advertisement in a local paper cost about $100. She said she thought she could handle it.
Just before the campers were to arrive she noticed camp did not have a "refrigerated water fountain." She asked me to buy one, and she would pay for it. When camp started, she could see she was no longer needed and quietly stepped out of the picture. I was curious about Glad so went by her home, a small two bedroom brick house.
In the fall she returned to ask if she could sell things in the store. I really hesitated, as Glad had strong opinions which she was very happy to share when she felt it appropriate. But...how could I say no? Young Life rented the facility for the first retreat weekend and, just as I feared, Glad soon lecturing a high school student who smoked!!!!! I cringed! However high school kids loved her, and soon were asking her questions about what life was like when she grew up. Glad told how the first time she drove a car, she drove it through a store window. And how nice girls rode side saddle, but she rode "astride" so she could ride faster. Glad laughed as she remembered, and those around her laughed with the fun, little lady.
After the first weekend retreat she told me to buy a piano. A piano? "Well, you don't have one in that conference building. Buy a good one, and I will pay for it!" Glad...are you sure? "Buy a good piano!" And so we did. A year later she told me to build a maintenance building. "Build what you need. I'll pay for it." We had plans drawn for a building adequate for the future needs of the camp. Glad had no interest in seeing the plans, nor did she have any interest in being recognized for her giving.
Our daughter, Carla, was the first chair cellist with a high school orchestra that was going to Vienna, Austria for an orchestra competition. When Glad learned about the competition, she told our daughter, with Sally Jo and me present, to have her cello teacher pick out a good cello, one appropriate to her ability, and she would pay for it.
Glad, Sally Jo and I became very close, and after six years we took her to see Wheaton College, which she had supported, but never seen. During the hours we talked, she told us she was giving away $28,000 a month! Oil money she called her "unearned increment." Glad enjoyed giving: giving herself and her resources.
Gladys Lankford lived In Partnership With God, and did not need the praise of men.
Glad lived by her favorite verse: "This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be Glad in it." -- Psalm 118:24
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Personal Update
Dear IPWG people -
The following is a personal update - totally out of the series.
Recent camping convention - and Sally Jo's unconventional birthday present for my 70th
Sally Jo and I have just returned from the Christian Camping and Conference Association annual Convention in Colorado Springs, Co. We went to my nieces wedding in Wheaton - then went on from there. I was given $ by Deerfoot Lodge and then was able to get a special convention rate ...to decided Sally Jo should come along - a special treat.
I took my partially completed IPWG with me, thinking I would send along the trip. Joke! We were going just about 24/7 from the time we left Greenville until we returned home this morning.
At the convention were 6 DL former staff - I think all had been with us at DL for 10 or more years. 4 are now camp directors - NY, ME, TX, PA. One is retreat manager in PA, and the other is head of wilderness camping and maintenance at a camp in MT. Two wives (+ Sally Jo) were also present.... Incredible experience for Sally Jo and me, as you can imagine. Another Deerfooter, unable to come, is the business manager of a year around camp/conference ministry in MN. And Scott Barnett is in Kenya...did not come. There are other Deerfooters who are also in camping - but there before I came.
I also participated in a seminar with another retired camp director - he of a year around ministry with $7,000,000 budget! Our topic: what would we have done differently? And time was spent with others in camping/conference ministry - have known some of them for 34 years.
One fun contact - a man from Indiana University (Weselyan) interested in developing a camping/conference major.
For my 70th birthday Sally Jo gave me a membership to a glider pilot club which is located 10minutes from our home. The idea: that I will become a glider pilot. Should be lots of fun...
Our 4 acre property is pretty well put to bed - which takes time....lots of time. Last summer we picked and froze 35 packages of blue berries - also lots of rasberries, rhubarb, beans, swiss chard, etc - and picked about 20 acorn and 16 butternut squash. All told we have 1 1/2 freezers full of food.
I dug up, split, and replanted at least 500 daffodil bulbs - This past spring I cut over 1000 flowers, mostly to give away. Yes, sounds crazy. We started buying bulbs after the planting season for half price soon after we moved in 29 years ago. This year I did not buy any more - only tulips!
And...the flower garden was again expanded... While Sally Jo was on her 9 day bike trip in the Czech republic, I worked with friends to put in a 16X20 blue stone patio on the South side of the house. One long term friend is a profession nursery man. He gave very clear instructions of how to prepare....and incredible amount of work. We dug out (help from friends) 11 cubic yards of soil - down 14"-17" to create good drainage and a solid base. We replaced with course gravel topped with 4" of stone dust. Another friend who sand blasts signs into rock went to the quarry and picked 7 ton of blue stone - up to 3' X 5' - the nursery man saw them and simply said "wow" Helps to have friends who know what they are doing - We have started to plant large grasses so as to create the feeling of a room. I have put away the table and two chairs for the winder, but today December 3, I ate an apple there, standing comfortably in a shirt - no jacket.
Anyway...the garden club has asked if our home can be on their tour in 2010. Sally Jo was pleased, though surprised, as most of the garden is no visible from the road...somebody told! So...next spring...I would rather not think about it!
Tis time now to turn my attention to making Christmas presents on the lathe - at least 9. If all goes well, we have an additional tentative list of another 15...will see.
Yes, busy - and "living thankful"
chuck
The following is a personal update - totally out of the series.
Recent camping convention - and Sally Jo's unconventional birthday present for my 70th
Sally Jo and I have just returned from the Christian Camping and Conference Association annual Convention in Colorado Springs, Co. We went to my nieces wedding in Wheaton - then went on from there. I was given $ by Deerfoot Lodge and then was able to get a special convention rate ...to decided Sally Jo should come along - a special treat.
I took my partially completed IPWG with me, thinking I would send along the trip. Joke! We were going just about 24/7 from the time we left Greenville until we returned home this morning.
At the convention were 6 DL former staff - I think all had been with us at DL for 10 or more years. 4 are now camp directors - NY, ME, TX, PA. One is retreat manager in PA, and the other is head of wilderness camping and maintenance at a camp in MT. Two wives (+ Sally Jo) were also present.... Incredible experience for Sally Jo and me, as you can imagine. Another Deerfooter, unable to come, is the business manager of a year around camp/conference ministry in MN. And Scott Barnett is in Kenya...did not come. There are other Deerfooters who are also in camping - but there before I came.
I also participated in a seminar with another retired camp director - he of a year around ministry with $7,000,000 budget! Our topic: what would we have done differently? And time was spent with others in camping/conference ministry - have known some of them for 34 years.
One fun contact - a man from Indiana University (Weselyan) interested in developing a camping/conference major.
For my 70th birthday Sally Jo gave me a membership to a glider pilot club which is located 10minutes from our home. The idea: that I will become a glider pilot. Should be lots of fun...
Our 4 acre property is pretty well put to bed - which takes time....lots of time. Last summer we picked and froze 35 packages of blue berries - also lots of rasberries, rhubarb, beans, swiss chard, etc - and picked about 20 acorn and 16 butternut squash. All told we have 1 1/2 freezers full of food.
I dug up, split, and replanted at least 500 daffodil bulbs - This past spring I cut over 1000 flowers, mostly to give away. Yes, sounds crazy. We started buying bulbs after the planting season for half price soon after we moved in 29 years ago. This year I did not buy any more - only tulips!
And...the flower garden was again expanded... While Sally Jo was on her 9 day bike trip in the Czech republic, I worked with friends to put in a 16X20 blue stone patio on the South side of the house. One long term friend is a profession nursery man. He gave very clear instructions of how to prepare....and incredible amount of work. We dug out (help from friends) 11 cubic yards of soil - down 14"-17" to create good drainage and a solid base. We replaced with course gravel topped with 4" of stone dust. Another friend who sand blasts signs into rock went to the quarry and picked 7 ton of blue stone - up to 3' X 5' - the nursery man saw them and simply said "wow" Helps to have friends who know what they are doing - We have started to plant large grasses so as to create the feeling of a room. I have put away the table and two chairs for the winder, but today December 3, I ate an apple there, standing comfortably in a shirt - no jacket.
Anyway...the garden club has asked if our home can be on their tour in 2010. Sally Jo was pleased, though surprised, as most of the garden is no visible from the road...somebody told! So...next spring...I would rather not think about it!
Tis time now to turn my attention to making Christmas presents on the lathe - at least 9. If all goes well, we have an additional tentative list of another 15...will see.
Yes, busy - and "living thankful"
chuck
Monday, November 23, 2009
God's Plan - Seen in Retrospect #82
I have just worked through Sally Jo?s daily diary from 1975 and found the following:
Each session more cabins are completed - and filled with campers registered months before. During summer over 1000 campers had been at the new Sky Ranch - as many as attended old ranch in a peak year.
As Hudson Taylor said, "God's work done in God's way never lacks for God's supply."
Dr. V. Raymond Edman, President of Wheaton College said: "Go as far as you can go, even if you cannot see how necessary things will happen. If it is God's work, God will keep a step ahead."
God again proved Himself faithful. I kept going forward, and God was continually going before us, providing the resources as needed to do His work. This was true in the area of staff hiring, supply purchasing, building design, site selection, and construction. Living In Partnership With God is a reality we can experience. It takes faith in action.
The Bible gives many examples of how God desires to work through people who take God at His word: building the ark, fighting battles, Gideon's battle, training to be a king, preparing for Jacob's family to survive through Joseph's being sold into slavery, food and water for Israelites in desert, Nehemiah's building the wall around Jerusalem, Esther's intervention, Daniel as prophet.
- February 8 - Dam construction to create 70 acre lake begins
- March 3 - Our family has picnic on lake bottom
- At some time:
- Eleanor Briley arrives in Dallas, stays with friend June Hunt in Dallas, begins staff hiring
- J.C. Hawkins hired - maintenance - lives mile from camp - builds fences, prepares riding trails
- About 30 unproven horses/tack begin to arrive at camp - bought by Lonnie, new wrangler from W. TX. His instructions: horses must be safe for campers to be around, all suitable for trail rides, some must be trained for barrel and other races within rodeo corral - also buy necessary tack & other needed equipment. He had two months - very tight budget! Good horses, great program!
- May 10 - Six repossessed mobile homes (cheap!) pulled in by bull dozer for staff housing & office-1st cabin framed in May 13 - Heavy rain. Concrete truck gets stuck - pulled out by bull dozer - no more deliveries until things dry out. Randy, the cook, arrives - stays with us in Dallas while working on menus, food suppliers.
- May 18 - Stoves from old camp put in temporary kitchen under our 12X12 dining tarp
- May 19 - Staff arrive in rain - sleep in mobile homes - no water, sewer, electricity - staff training in uncompleted barn
- May 20 - Water running off tarp onto burners and griddle. No refrigeration. Only water source across lake. Desperate situation! Decide to pray for 24 hr - set up schedule: "Lord, Please Stop The Rain." The Lord Stops the Rain! - for area of about 3 miles around us
- May 21 - Call general contractor. "The sun is out at Sky Ranch" Calls 7 sub-contractors - no other dry place to work.
- May 22 - 7 sub-contractors/their crews arrive - I have movie of their arrival - workmen everywhere - working together - Larry Brooks, art teacher from Middle Tennessee State U. arrives with wife/daughter to run craft program
- May 25 - Lake full - copperhead snakes into camp up from lake bed (kill 28 during summer) scorpions abound!
- June 1 - workable camp - home type refrigerators/freezers are all we had for 1st summer. - first campers arrive - fortunately a small number for the first session.
- June 3 - Sally Jo and our 3 kids join me in mobile home. Still no electricity, thus no AC - over 90 degrees inside. While swimming with kids in lake sees snake - likely a water moccasin - very sobering.
Each session more cabins are completed - and filled with campers registered months before. During summer over 1000 campers had been at the new Sky Ranch - as many as attended old ranch in a peak year.
- If there had been no intense rain, the lake would not have been filled.
- If there had been no intense rain, the Sky Ranch staff would not have experienced God stopping the rain over the camp
- If there had been no intense rain, the sub-contractors would have had other places to work.
As Hudson Taylor said, "God's work done in God's way never lacks for God's supply."
Dr. V. Raymond Edman, President of Wheaton College said: "Go as far as you can go, even if you cannot see how necessary things will happen. If it is God's work, God will keep a step ahead."
God again proved Himself faithful. I kept going forward, and God was continually going before us, providing the resources as needed to do His work. This was true in the area of staff hiring, supply purchasing, building design, site selection, and construction. Living In Partnership With God is a reality we can experience. It takes faith in action.
The Bible gives many examples of how God desires to work through people who take God at His word: building the ark, fighting battles, Gideon's battle, training to be a king, preparing for Jacob's family to survive through Joseph's being sold into slavery, food and water for Israelites in desert, Nehemiah's building the wall around Jerusalem, Esther's intervention, Daniel as prophet.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Reality Sets In #81
Billboards in and around Dallas featured a beautiful lodge with the words "Sky Ranch." This lodge was to be located on the highest point in the property - with a great view of the lake. This lodge is where the dining room, kitchen, offices, meeting rooms and large deck were to be located. The reality was that there were no significant contributions for the construction of the lodge. Time to swallow hard and scratch the lodge.
Three months until the campers were to arrive - no buildings & no utilities under construction. Campers were registering. Staff was being hired. The old camp was gone. No turning back now!
The re-designed craft building had a loft and a very open feeling. This looked to be the only building of any size which would be built in the first year. It could work as the temporary kitchen and dining hall for 150 people -- tight, but by using the loft, it could work. The barn loft, if fully separated from the barn and properly insulated, could become the location for the craft program. This very closed in, almost windowless area would be just the opposite of the open, bright feeling of the anticipated craft building, but reality was reality.
A building designed for use by small groups was redesigned into one large room which could seat 150 on the floor. The front deck was expanded to handle 150 people. This building/deck would meet the indoor and outdoor program requirements -- it would work.
We had to scrap the maintenance building - not essential for the summer. Ouch - no building to adapt for this purpose.
George Christian became the "go-to" person for the construction of the new ranch. We walked the new property hour after hour, selecting and marking the site for every building and activity area for present and projected plans. To do this we had to keep in mind where utilities would be available, where the trail rides should be located, how people would travel from one building to another in clear or rainy weather, where to park 100 cars, where to locate the road for deliveries to the camp store, kitchen, and barn. Road access to each sleeping cabin was a challenge ? and each cabin, being a duplex, needed two parking spaces for retreat weekends. The challenge was huge -- but we did it!
Don Hill of Tyler, TX was hired as the general contractor for building construction and he blocked off the entire spring to build the fifteen planned buildings for camp. When Don realized the central lodge was not going to be built and that other buildings were still in the design stage, he took on other construction projects. Don Hill had no problem finding work -- he was good! Reality: when the building plans were finalized, Don had his men working on other projects. At least the construction of the dam was on schedule.
To have peace and patience in the midst of this mess was truly a stretch for all of us! Nothing was going as anyone had planned -- except for the construction of the dam. At this point living In Partnership With God was challenging and exciting ? but not fun! Abraham, Moses, David, Nehemiah and many others expressed similar feelings.
The Sky Ranch situation was a great example of Hudson Taylor's words: "God's work done in God's way never lacks for God's supply." Something was not right! Everyone now agreed: the plans for the beautiful lodge had to go - others modified. Insufficient funds!
The result? Sky Ranch was becoming a much more "camper friendly" place. The dining hall would not be beautiful, but it would be functional due to its openness, and bright because of the many large windows. The craft shop would feel "tucked away" - a place set apart, cool and comfortable. And there would be an excitement felt when 150 campers and staff are packed into a room, or sitting on a deck - to laugh, sing, and listen.
Trust in the Lord. Wait patiently for Him!
Three months until the campers were to arrive - no buildings & no utilities under construction. Campers were registering. Staff was being hired. The old camp was gone. No turning back now!
The re-designed craft building had a loft and a very open feeling. This looked to be the only building of any size which would be built in the first year. It could work as the temporary kitchen and dining hall for 150 people -- tight, but by using the loft, it could work. The barn loft, if fully separated from the barn and properly insulated, could become the location for the craft program. This very closed in, almost windowless area would be just the opposite of the open, bright feeling of the anticipated craft building, but reality was reality.
A building designed for use by small groups was redesigned into one large room which could seat 150 on the floor. The front deck was expanded to handle 150 people. This building/deck would meet the indoor and outdoor program requirements -- it would work.
We had to scrap the maintenance building - not essential for the summer. Ouch - no building to adapt for this purpose.
George Christian became the "go-to" person for the construction of the new ranch. We walked the new property hour after hour, selecting and marking the site for every building and activity area for present and projected plans. To do this we had to keep in mind where utilities would be available, where the trail rides should be located, how people would travel from one building to another in clear or rainy weather, where to park 100 cars, where to locate the road for deliveries to the camp store, kitchen, and barn. Road access to each sleeping cabin was a challenge ? and each cabin, being a duplex, needed two parking spaces for retreat weekends. The challenge was huge -- but we did it!
Don Hill of Tyler, TX was hired as the general contractor for building construction and he blocked off the entire spring to build the fifteen planned buildings for camp. When Don realized the central lodge was not going to be built and that other buildings were still in the design stage, he took on other construction projects. Don Hill had no problem finding work -- he was good! Reality: when the building plans were finalized, Don had his men working on other projects. At least the construction of the dam was on schedule.
To have peace and patience in the midst of this mess was truly a stretch for all of us! Nothing was going as anyone had planned -- except for the construction of the dam. At this point living In Partnership With God was challenging and exciting ? but not fun! Abraham, Moses, David, Nehemiah and many others expressed similar feelings.
The Sky Ranch situation was a great example of Hudson Taylor's words: "God's work done in God's way never lacks for God's supply." Something was not right! Everyone now agreed: the plans for the beautiful lodge had to go - others modified. Insufficient funds!
The result? Sky Ranch was becoming a much more "camper friendly" place. The dining hall would not be beautiful, but it would be functional due to its openness, and bright because of the many large windows. The craft shop would feel "tucked away" - a place set apart, cool and comfortable. And there would be an excitement felt when 150 campers and staff are packed into a room, or sitting on a deck - to laugh, sing, and listen.
Trust in the Lord. Wait patiently for Him!
Monday, November 9, 2009
A Rightfully Angry Donor #80
One of my jobs as Director of Sky Ranch became fund-raising. As I visited committed or prospective donors, I come to know a variety of people. Sometimes these visits took surprising turns.
One afternoon I went to meet with a financially successful business man, a Christian. I could see instantly that he was not happy. He welcomed me - then turned away and looked out his window. Nothing was said for what seemed to be an eternity. When he turned back to me, he managed a weak smile. After another quiet stretch I asked him if he would like to talk about what was troubling him.
He then dumped the whole load.
He started his monologue with "It is wrong! It is just wrong!!! I gave $100,000 to a Christian organization, and they act as if I did something special - and now they treat me as if I am a special person. I am not special - that $100,000 really cost me nothing! Nothing!"
"The people who are really special are those who give generously out of what little they have! They are the special people, not me."
His face was so sad. What I wanted to do was to take a step forward and give him a huge hug! He understood. He got it right.
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two farthings, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They gave out of their wealth, but she, out of her poverty, put in everything she had to live on" -- Mark 12:41-44
This man lived in partnership with God's people - In Partnership With God.
One afternoon I went to meet with a financially successful business man, a Christian. I could see instantly that he was not happy. He welcomed me - then turned away and looked out his window. Nothing was said for what seemed to be an eternity. When he turned back to me, he managed a weak smile. After another quiet stretch I asked him if he would like to talk about what was troubling him.
He then dumped the whole load.
He started his monologue with "It is wrong! It is just wrong!!! I gave $100,000 to a Christian organization, and they act as if I did something special - and now they treat me as if I am a special person. I am not special - that $100,000 really cost me nothing! Nothing!"
"The people who are really special are those who give generously out of what little they have! They are the special people, not me."
His face was so sad. What I wanted to do was to take a step forward and give him a huge hug! He understood. He got it right.
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two farthings, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They gave out of their wealth, but she, out of her poverty, put in everything she had to live on" -- Mark 12:41-44
This man lived in partnership with God's people - In Partnership With God.
Monday, November 2, 2009
The Reality of Physical Work #79
I believe God provided the home we were able to buy in an excellent neighborhood near a very good school, and a ten minute drive from the Sky Ranch office. God provided the billboards which made Sky Ranch instantly known throughout the Dallas metropolis. God was doing this work, and I was along for the ride, with a very thankful heart. When lunches were arranged for business leaders, my work was to put on a coat and tie, show up, eat good food, and speak for 15 minutes. No physical work.
However, soon after I became the Executive Director of Sky Ranch, I faced a very different type of work - physical work. It was necessary to take what was valuable and movable from the old Sky Ranch in Denton, TX, to the new Sky Ranch, three hours away in Van. This included boats, dock sections, beds, and kitchen equipment. The moving was somewhat urgent as the men subdividing the property wanted to get on with their work. At the new property, the existing road was to be replaced by a temporary road while the dam was being built, and this would take months: the 500’ earthen dam was to 25 feet high.
There was a fork lift to get things up on the flat-bed truck, but each item had to be moved to where the fork lift could get to them. Once on the truck, everything had to be put in a position to tie down. The days were long, the work very hard, but this very physical work had to be done.
I think the only time I have fainted from pain in my life was when I was up on the truck and one of the large, wooden dock sections slipped in the loading process. I was able to get my body out of the way…except for one thumb. As soon as it was squished, my thumb began to swell. I jumped off the truck and ran over to an old drinking fountain, put my thumb under the cold water, and shortly thereafter passed out, flat on the ground!
I remember the challenge of getting a large Hobart mixer out of the kitchen to where it could be picked up and taken to the truck. This was an old army mixer about six feet tall. There was no way the few of us working could lift the machine or even move the machine very much. We figured out that we could tie one end of a strong rope to the machine, take the other end across the room and out a window and tie it to a pick up truck which then pulled the mixer across the floor. When we needed to pull the mixer in another direction, we put the rope through a different door or window. We soon had the monster through the door.
When I was growing up, my father, who was a medical doctor, thought it very important that my brother and I know how to work. I think our first job was cleaning the garage. Our dad cleaned the garage with us so we would know how to do it right. He often said: “if you know how to work, it will help you whatever you do. Soon keeping the garage clean was our responsibility. When I was 12 and my brother was 14, my father and Mr. Van Kampen bought a farm so their sons would have a place to work. I learned to hoe the corn out of the soy bean field – required as there was crop rotation, and the corn picker would leave kernels on the ground. I learned to drive a tractor, back up a farm wagon, and disk a field. I was almost as big then as I am now, and when Mr. Knecht realized I could stack hay bales five high on the wagon behind the baler – this is pretty much where I lived all summer long. And the same baler was used across the road on Mr. Camas’ farm and “somehow” I ended up going with the bailer. Dad always picked us up on his way home from his office. One day, when he came by, I was still out baling hay. He knew someone would bring me home when the job was done for the day. The next morning, when my dad woke up, I was still not home. He drove out to the farm just as the sun was coming up, and I was still on the wagon stacking bales. The rain was coming and the work needed to get done before the rain came. I loved the work – and the fact that I was treated as a man.
It often comes to my mind that Jesus was a carpenter – he worked with his hands. Solomon said “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” Ecclesiastes 9:10. The Bible is full of examples of hard, physical work – the ark, the temple and its furnishings, the wall of Jerusalem. When we live In Partnership With God, much of life is just hard work, be it mental, physical or both.
However, soon after I became the Executive Director of Sky Ranch, I faced a very different type of work - physical work. It was necessary to take what was valuable and movable from the old Sky Ranch in Denton, TX, to the new Sky Ranch, three hours away in Van. This included boats, dock sections, beds, and kitchen equipment. The moving was somewhat urgent as the men subdividing the property wanted to get on with their work. At the new property, the existing road was to be replaced by a temporary road while the dam was being built, and this would take months: the 500’ earthen dam was to 25 feet high.
There was a fork lift to get things up on the flat-bed truck, but each item had to be moved to where the fork lift could get to them. Once on the truck, everything had to be put in a position to tie down. The days were long, the work very hard, but this very physical work had to be done.
I think the only time I have fainted from pain in my life was when I was up on the truck and one of the large, wooden dock sections slipped in the loading process. I was able to get my body out of the way…except for one thumb. As soon as it was squished, my thumb began to swell. I jumped off the truck and ran over to an old drinking fountain, put my thumb under the cold water, and shortly thereafter passed out, flat on the ground!
I remember the challenge of getting a large Hobart mixer out of the kitchen to where it could be picked up and taken to the truck. This was an old army mixer about six feet tall. There was no way the few of us working could lift the machine or even move the machine very much. We figured out that we could tie one end of a strong rope to the machine, take the other end across the room and out a window and tie it to a pick up truck which then pulled the mixer across the floor. When we needed to pull the mixer in another direction, we put the rope through a different door or window. We soon had the monster through the door.
When I was growing up, my father, who was a medical doctor, thought it very important that my brother and I know how to work. I think our first job was cleaning the garage. Our dad cleaned the garage with us so we would know how to do it right. He often said: “if you know how to work, it will help you whatever you do. Soon keeping the garage clean was our responsibility. When I was 12 and my brother was 14, my father and Mr. Van Kampen bought a farm so their sons would have a place to work. I learned to hoe the corn out of the soy bean field – required as there was crop rotation, and the corn picker would leave kernels on the ground. I learned to drive a tractor, back up a farm wagon, and disk a field. I was almost as big then as I am now, and when Mr. Knecht realized I could stack hay bales five high on the wagon behind the baler – this is pretty much where I lived all summer long. And the same baler was used across the road on Mr. Camas’ farm and “somehow” I ended up going with the bailer. Dad always picked us up on his way home from his office. One day, when he came by, I was still out baling hay. He knew someone would bring me home when the job was done for the day. The next morning, when my dad woke up, I was still not home. He drove out to the farm just as the sun was coming up, and I was still on the wagon stacking bales. The rain was coming and the work needed to get done before the rain came. I loved the work – and the fact that I was treated as a man.
It often comes to my mind that Jesus was a carpenter – he worked with his hands. Solomon said “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” Ecclesiastes 9:10. The Bible is full of examples of hard, physical work – the ark, the temple and its furnishings, the wall of Jerusalem. When we live In Partnership With God, much of life is just hard work, be it mental, physical or both.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Changing the Image of Sky Ranch #78
In the years just prior to my become Executive Director of Sky Ranch, summer camper attendance had decreased significantly. The camp had been located in Denton, Texas, just north Dallas. This was a beautiful, hilly area, and large homes were being built on the hills surrounding camp. The feeling of going off to camp was gone! When the Board of Directors began to talk about changing the camp location, building maintenance and equipment purchases essentially stopped, and the camp director quit.
An entirely new image to a larger population was essential. I had no clue how to get the word out. Another...”Lord Help!” Though I did not use the phrase then, if this was Living In Partnership With God, it was a very tough challenge, much more than I had bargained for!
Somehow we made contact with the company that owned many of the large billboards in key locations in and around Dallas. They agreed to put a full size Sky Ranch advertisement on every billboard that was not being rented, if we would have a professionally prepared billboard advertisement available to them. It turned out the advertising company had _many_ bill boards that were not being rented. Like overnight there were Sky Ranch billboards all over the city and surrounding area. No question: Sky Ranch had instant, positive name recognition – at no cost to Sky Ranch!!
Another boost came from Sky Ranch Board members and their friends. Many sponsored lunch gatherings at excellent restaurants. Business and professional people would come for a great lunch – and learn about Sky Ranch. The image of Sky Ranch was changing!
I vividly remember that after one of the first lunches, the CEO of a large grocery store chain invited me to meet him at his office. He warmly welcomed me and, after helping me feel comfortable, proceeded to tell me he was very disappointed in my presentation of the purpose of Sky Ranch: to help people come to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. He thought I down-played this fundamental truth so as to not offend non-Christians present. He went on to say that whereas some would question the value of this purpose, everyone would have respected a clear statement of what Sky Ranch was seeking to do. He was kind, but very firm. I sincerely thanked him for what he just said to me – and vowed to myself that I would never make that mistake again.
As we pushed hard to have camp ready on June 1, someone arranged to have Miss America present for the opening day. Another person arranged to have professional soccer player Kyle Rote Jr., recent winner of the Super Star competition, teach soccer during the first week at camp. More excellent publicity.
A quality color brochure was prepared. Registrations were beginning to trickle in.
Though wonderful things were happening, the over-all picture was very bleak. June 1 was getting closer and closer, and at the new location all that was happening was the building of the dam that would create a 70 acre lake. Nothing else! Except for the camper cabins, every building was being redesigned and relocated, and this was proving to be a difficult, slow process.
I continued to spend time morning after morning alone in prayer. Living In Partnership with God? Being Executive Director of Sky Ranch was proving to be a personal test of Hebrews 11:1. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see.”
A great name without a camp able to function would bury Sky Ranch. We pressed on…and on.
An entirely new image to a larger population was essential. I had no clue how to get the word out. Another...”Lord Help!” Though I did not use the phrase then, if this was Living In Partnership With God, it was a very tough challenge, much more than I had bargained for!
Somehow we made contact with the company that owned many of the large billboards in key locations in and around Dallas. They agreed to put a full size Sky Ranch advertisement on every billboard that was not being rented, if we would have a professionally prepared billboard advertisement available to them. It turned out the advertising company had _many_ bill boards that were not being rented. Like overnight there were Sky Ranch billboards all over the city and surrounding area. No question: Sky Ranch had instant, positive name recognition – at no cost to Sky Ranch!!
Another boost came from Sky Ranch Board members and their friends. Many sponsored lunch gatherings at excellent restaurants. Business and professional people would come for a great lunch – and learn about Sky Ranch. The image of Sky Ranch was changing!
I vividly remember that after one of the first lunches, the CEO of a large grocery store chain invited me to meet him at his office. He warmly welcomed me and, after helping me feel comfortable, proceeded to tell me he was very disappointed in my presentation of the purpose of Sky Ranch: to help people come to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. He thought I down-played this fundamental truth so as to not offend non-Christians present. He went on to say that whereas some would question the value of this purpose, everyone would have respected a clear statement of what Sky Ranch was seeking to do. He was kind, but very firm. I sincerely thanked him for what he just said to me – and vowed to myself that I would never make that mistake again.
As we pushed hard to have camp ready on June 1, someone arranged to have Miss America present for the opening day. Another person arranged to have professional soccer player Kyle Rote Jr., recent winner of the Super Star competition, teach soccer during the first week at camp. More excellent publicity.
A quality color brochure was prepared. Registrations were beginning to trickle in.
Though wonderful things were happening, the over-all picture was very bleak. June 1 was getting closer and closer, and at the new location all that was happening was the building of the dam that would create a 70 acre lake. Nothing else! Except for the camper cabins, every building was being redesigned and relocated, and this was proving to be a difficult, slow process.
I continued to spend time morning after morning alone in prayer. Living In Partnership with God? Being Executive Director of Sky Ranch was proving to be a personal test of Hebrews 11:1. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see.”
A great name without a camp able to function would bury Sky Ranch. We pressed on…and on.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Living Under Authority #77
Very soon after arriving in Dallas I met with the Sky Ranch Board of Directors. They assured me the engineering for the lake and utilities had been completed and the conceptual plans for the buildings for this camp/conference center were being finalized. The Board of Directors said they would take the responsibility for the funding and construction of the new facility. My responsibilities included the program, equipment, horses, publicity, camper registrations, staffing, the development of the non-existent conference ministry - and to be available for special fund raising events.
Deadline? Five Months!
The specialty of the architect, who had prepared the camp/conference plans, was country clubs. The main lodge was very beautiful, inside and out. Included was a gathering area with a big fireplace, the dining room and meeting rooms. This was a sealed building which required continual air conditioning or heating. It would be an incredible building for upscale weekend retreats, but I could not imagine campers using this building when coming in dirty and sweaty from soccer or horse back riding.
I have a vivid memory of waking up early many mornings and going into our living room and getting down on my knees to open my heart to the Lord. I realized I was a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, and also realized I was to live under earthly authority unless what I was told to do would cause me to disobey God?s directives. Two examples of this principle from the New Testament: "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves" Romans 13:1-2 "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you." Hebrews 13:17
I had to keep reminding myself that I was not responsible for the decisions which the Sky Ranch Board of Directors made. My responsibility was to do what I was told to do with a good attitude. I pleaded with the Lord to give me wisdom as to how to approach the Board, people I really did not know, and tell them I believed the present plans were unsuitable for their intended purpose, thus implying that the time and thousands of dollars spent on them had been essentially wasted. As I shared with the Board my concerns with the present plans, they began the process of coming up with new plans - continually looking to me for suggestions. The days and weeks were slipping by. To complicate the situation, it became obvious there were few significant contributions. Funds available? Essentially $500,000 of borrowed money. The next question became - Chuck, what buildings are essential if camp is to be in operation on June 1? Soon the Board asked me to assume major responsibility for fund raising. I had no experience with fund raising.
I began to struggle with frustration and bitterness. "Lord, I am woefully inadequate to do what the Sky Ranch Board is asking me to. Lord, help me to be calm. Lord, I am totally dependent upon you to guide me, to guide the Board of Directors." I knew that if this ministry was of the Lord, He would have to act and the pieces would come together. If this was not of the Lord - it was over!
We must all live under the authority of God, of the government, and, for most of us, the authority of a person or organization. Living under authority is part of doing God's work in God's way.
Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission, said "God's work done in God's way never lacks for God's supply".
Our responsibility is to understand our part in God's work - and how to do this work in a way pleasing to God. These we must do! The supply end is God's responsibility.
Deadline? Five Months!
The specialty of the architect, who had prepared the camp/conference plans, was country clubs. The main lodge was very beautiful, inside and out. Included was a gathering area with a big fireplace, the dining room and meeting rooms. This was a sealed building which required continual air conditioning or heating. It would be an incredible building for upscale weekend retreats, but I could not imagine campers using this building when coming in dirty and sweaty from soccer or horse back riding.
I have a vivid memory of waking up early many mornings and going into our living room and getting down on my knees to open my heart to the Lord. I realized I was a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, and also realized I was to live under earthly authority unless what I was told to do would cause me to disobey God?s directives. Two examples of this principle from the New Testament: "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves" Romans 13:1-2 "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you." Hebrews 13:17
I had to keep reminding myself that I was not responsible for the decisions which the Sky Ranch Board of Directors made. My responsibility was to do what I was told to do with a good attitude. I pleaded with the Lord to give me wisdom as to how to approach the Board, people I really did not know, and tell them I believed the present plans were unsuitable for their intended purpose, thus implying that the time and thousands of dollars spent on them had been essentially wasted. As I shared with the Board my concerns with the present plans, they began the process of coming up with new plans - continually looking to me for suggestions. The days and weeks were slipping by. To complicate the situation, it became obvious there were few significant contributions. Funds available? Essentially $500,000 of borrowed money. The next question became - Chuck, what buildings are essential if camp is to be in operation on June 1? Soon the Board asked me to assume major responsibility for fund raising. I had no experience with fund raising.
I began to struggle with frustration and bitterness. "Lord, I am woefully inadequate to do what the Sky Ranch Board is asking me to. Lord, help me to be calm. Lord, I am totally dependent upon you to guide me, to guide the Board of Directors." I knew that if this ministry was of the Lord, He would have to act and the pieces would come together. If this was not of the Lord - it was over!
We must all live under the authority of God, of the government, and, for most of us, the authority of a person or organization. Living under authority is part of doing God's work in God's way.
Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission, said "God's work done in God's way never lacks for God's supply".
Our responsibility is to understand our part in God's work - and how to do this work in a way pleasing to God. These we must do! The supply end is God's responsibility.
Monday, October 5, 2009
God's Guidance - As I Understand It #76
Repeatedly I have changed jobs / God's assignments. In the following I am trying to state what I believe have been the key factors involved in my receiving God's guidance.
My desire is, above all other desires, is to live as God's child. God requires of me openness to His directions. God promises that if I trust Him, and do not totally depend on my own understanding, He will direct my path - just as He directed Joshua to fight battles, David to become king, craftsmen to build a portable tabernacle for the Israelite people and Jesus to be a carpenter for fifteen years.
God requires my obedience to His guidance. What God desires me to do begins with my doing what the Bible tells me to do. God will never direct me contrary to His written truth. In decision making, I believe that God wants me to use the brain He gave to me. If I come to a conclusion which provides His peace - I must move forward. If I make a wrong decision and want to know what God desires of me, I believe that He will re-direct my path. In scripture we read a variety of ways God communicated with His people: His still, small voice, wise counsel, visions, dreams, hand writing on a wall, the voice of a donkey -- whatever it took, God got His message through.
God directed our decision to accept a new responsibility at Sky Ranch through circumstances, brains, wise counsel, and peace. God confirmed His guidance through the provision of our new home, and ultimately, through having Sky Ranch in full operation on June 1.
When I believe I know God's will for me, I must go forward in faith. Without obedient faith I know it is impossible to please God. And so I move forward, regardless of how impossible the task looks to be. I depend upon God to provide whatever is necessary get His work done - in His way! This attitude must not imply that no work will be required. Noah had to build an ark. Moses had to lead God's people for 40 years in a desert. Nehemiah had to direct the building of the wall of Jerusalem in spite of huge obstacles. The disciples were to preach, to heal people. In each case, the person involved was only God?s agent. If I work to obey God, the completion of the work is God's responsibility. I must not worry, must not get up-tight about the task. Jesus said that His yoke is easy, His burden is light. I had to go forward using all of my resources: my abilities, my training, my experience, my personality - all that is me. Just as faith is required, courage is required! I must keep pressing on - and on - until my portion of the task is finished. I believed that God directed me to get Sky Ranch operational again at a new location. To accomplish this in five months, from a human perspective, was impossible.
I believe this is God's plan for how each of us is to live our lives. God gives each of us unique work to do. We are each a bit different - different personalities, gifts, training, etc. We are the body of Christ, with many different parts: hospitality, caring, teaching, giving, administrating, etc. We are clearly told that no one is more important than the other. We are a body - each to do our work under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. God desires to direct our paths.
Our challenge: openness, obedience, faith, courage - no turning back.
My desire is, above all other desires, is to live as God's child. God requires of me openness to His directions. God promises that if I trust Him, and do not totally depend on my own understanding, He will direct my path - just as He directed Joshua to fight battles, David to become king, craftsmen to build a portable tabernacle for the Israelite people and Jesus to be a carpenter for fifteen years.
God requires my obedience to His guidance. What God desires me to do begins with my doing what the Bible tells me to do. God will never direct me contrary to His written truth. In decision making, I believe that God wants me to use the brain He gave to me. If I come to a conclusion which provides His peace - I must move forward. If I make a wrong decision and want to know what God desires of me, I believe that He will re-direct my path. In scripture we read a variety of ways God communicated with His people: His still, small voice, wise counsel, visions, dreams, hand writing on a wall, the voice of a donkey -- whatever it took, God got His message through.
God directed our decision to accept a new responsibility at Sky Ranch through circumstances, brains, wise counsel, and peace. God confirmed His guidance through the provision of our new home, and ultimately, through having Sky Ranch in full operation on June 1.
When I believe I know God's will for me, I must go forward in faith. Without obedient faith I know it is impossible to please God. And so I move forward, regardless of how impossible the task looks to be. I depend upon God to provide whatever is necessary get His work done - in His way! This attitude must not imply that no work will be required. Noah had to build an ark. Moses had to lead God's people for 40 years in a desert. Nehemiah had to direct the building of the wall of Jerusalem in spite of huge obstacles. The disciples were to preach, to heal people. In each case, the person involved was only God?s agent. If I work to obey God, the completion of the work is God's responsibility. I must not worry, must not get up-tight about the task. Jesus said that His yoke is easy, His burden is light. I had to go forward using all of my resources: my abilities, my training, my experience, my personality - all that is me. Just as faith is required, courage is required! I must keep pressing on - and on - until my portion of the task is finished. I believed that God directed me to get Sky Ranch operational again at a new location. To accomplish this in five months, from a human perspective, was impossible.
I believe this is God's plan for how each of us is to live our lives. God gives each of us unique work to do. We are each a bit different - different personalities, gifts, training, etc. We are the body of Christ, with many different parts: hospitality, caring, teaching, giving, administrating, etc. We are clearly told that no one is more important than the other. We are a body - each to do our work under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. God desires to direct our paths.
Our challenge: openness, obedience, faith, courage - no turning back.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Courage Required #75
On Christmas afternoon we took down our Christmas tree. With the help of my sister Pat, brother David and their spouses we began to pack. On December 26 the professional packers arrived. That afternoon my parents took 17 of our family see the Nutcracker Ballet in Chicago. On December 27 the moving van came. We spent the night with Sally Jo’s brother and family. The next morning, after saying good bye to Sally Jo’s parents, we headed for Dallas. Thankfully my brother David was going with us.
At 9:00 pm on December 29 we arrived at our cold house, crawled into our sleeping bags, and were soon asleep. The next morning we were up early, working to clean up the house before the movers came…at 9:00 am. Unexpectedly four young men associated with Sky Ranch came to help us get settled. As boxes and furniture came in through the front door, we told the movers where to put them, while we unpacked as fast as we could. The next noon Clayton and Peggy Bell arrived with lunch. Clayton was the Senior Minister of Highland Park Presbyterian Church – I had served as Clayton’s assistant in Dothan, Alabama eleven years previously. We worked late into the night trying to bring order out of chaos.
On January 1 we took my brother David to his plane. Suddenly, we were alone. As a family we had gone from Christmas celebrations, our extended families and our wonderful church family, nice home, good school, and familiar surroundings – to being just Sally Jo and me with our children, Carla, Jenna and Dirk, ages 9, 6, and 3. Reality: a new house in a new neighborhood in a place where we did not even know where the grocery store was, much less a doctor. It was tough!
The next morning I found my new office and spent the day trying to understand Sky Ranch’s situation, complicated by the fact that it had been without a director for several months. I was no longer a pastor, but the “Executive Director” of a non-profit organization which had one employee, a rented office and a couple hundred acres. On June 1, in five months, we needed to have built a lake, put in the roads and utilities, built and furnished essential buildings – including a barn, stalls and pens for 40 horses, built fences and a rodeo corral, bought 30 or 40 low cost horses in good health and safe for campers to ride, bought the necessary saddles, bridles and other program equipment for the operation of a camp, hired 4 year around staff and 40 summer staff – and helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars – while getting the word out: Sky Ranch was starting over again in East Texas. Oh Lord, what have you gotten me into? Our family into? Yet, we believed this assignment was from God: it would get done...on time.
Sally Jo was busy meeting the needs of our children, for if the kids did not have a reasonably good day, it would have made future days much more difficult. They, like we, did not know anyone, nor did they know where many of their things were – including the games and creative craft materials they enjoyed. The kids had no patterns and there were no places where the house was in order. Sally Jo worked at cleaning, laundry and putting what had been unpacked by five people into the right places. When the games were finally found, our children asked their mom to play with them…and she did.
Jenna’s seventh birthday was January 4th... We needed to be ready with wrapped presents (we brought some with us), a cake with candles – and whatever else could make a party – when there were no friends to invite. After cake and gifts we drove two hours to the new ranch location – then back to Dallas to the Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlor where the staff sang “Happy Birthday” to our Jenna.
Our move was not very different than the move of any family to a totally new situation, apart from the fact that I was essentially changing vocations and starting up a new company – in a multi-building facility, which I was soon to learn, had to be redesigned before being built. At such times we must depend on our God given brains, the God given wisdom we pray for, and the fact that we need Him to go before, often in ways of which we are unaware. No wonder God said to Joshua when he took on the responsibility of leading a great nation: “Be strong and of a good courage. Be not afraid, neither be though dismayed, for the Lord they God is with you, where ever you go”. As God was with Joshua, so God is with us. Courage is required!
When we become aware of new people in our neighborhood, our school, our church – we need to put ourselves in their shoes. What can we do that will make their transition easier? Cookies, flowers from our yard, information about the area, an invite for a meal – perhaps all of the above! It takes courage for any of us to reach out with open hearts and hands to our new neighbor – the family next door, down the street, at church or at school. When we, who live In Partnership With God, reach out with Christ like love and compassion, our love will not be forgotten.
(This Sunday morning I welcomed a person I did not know to church. It turned out this was his first time in the church. He had been born in Dothan, AL – where I served as Assistant Pastor of 1st Presbyterian Church. We had much to talk about – boiled peanuts anyone?)
At 9:00 pm on December 29 we arrived at our cold house, crawled into our sleeping bags, and were soon asleep. The next morning we were up early, working to clean up the house before the movers came…at 9:00 am. Unexpectedly four young men associated with Sky Ranch came to help us get settled. As boxes and furniture came in through the front door, we told the movers where to put them, while we unpacked as fast as we could. The next noon Clayton and Peggy Bell arrived with lunch. Clayton was the Senior Minister of Highland Park Presbyterian Church – I had served as Clayton’s assistant in Dothan, Alabama eleven years previously. We worked late into the night trying to bring order out of chaos.
On January 1 we took my brother David to his plane. Suddenly, we were alone. As a family we had gone from Christmas celebrations, our extended families and our wonderful church family, nice home, good school, and familiar surroundings – to being just Sally Jo and me with our children, Carla, Jenna and Dirk, ages 9, 6, and 3. Reality: a new house in a new neighborhood in a place where we did not even know where the grocery store was, much less a doctor. It was tough!
The next morning I found my new office and spent the day trying to understand Sky Ranch’s situation, complicated by the fact that it had been without a director for several months. I was no longer a pastor, but the “Executive Director” of a non-profit organization which had one employee, a rented office and a couple hundred acres. On June 1, in five months, we needed to have built a lake, put in the roads and utilities, built and furnished essential buildings – including a barn, stalls and pens for 40 horses, built fences and a rodeo corral, bought 30 or 40 low cost horses in good health and safe for campers to ride, bought the necessary saddles, bridles and other program equipment for the operation of a camp, hired 4 year around staff and 40 summer staff – and helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars – while getting the word out: Sky Ranch was starting over again in East Texas. Oh Lord, what have you gotten me into? Our family into? Yet, we believed this assignment was from God: it would get done...on time.
Sally Jo was busy meeting the needs of our children, for if the kids did not have a reasonably good day, it would have made future days much more difficult. They, like we, did not know anyone, nor did they know where many of their things were – including the games and creative craft materials they enjoyed. The kids had no patterns and there were no places where the house was in order. Sally Jo worked at cleaning, laundry and putting what had been unpacked by five people into the right places. When the games were finally found, our children asked their mom to play with them…and she did.
Jenna’s seventh birthday was January 4th... We needed to be ready with wrapped presents (we brought some with us), a cake with candles – and whatever else could make a party – when there were no friends to invite. After cake and gifts we drove two hours to the new ranch location – then back to Dallas to the Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlor where the staff sang “Happy Birthday” to our Jenna.
Our move was not very different than the move of any family to a totally new situation, apart from the fact that I was essentially changing vocations and starting up a new company – in a multi-building facility, which I was soon to learn, had to be redesigned before being built. At such times we must depend on our God given brains, the God given wisdom we pray for, and the fact that we need Him to go before, often in ways of which we are unaware. No wonder God said to Joshua when he took on the responsibility of leading a great nation: “Be strong and of a good courage. Be not afraid, neither be though dismayed, for the Lord they God is with you, where ever you go”. As God was with Joshua, so God is with us. Courage is required!
When we become aware of new people in our neighborhood, our school, our church – we need to put ourselves in their shoes. What can we do that will make their transition easier? Cookies, flowers from our yard, information about the area, an invite for a meal – perhaps all of the above! It takes courage for any of us to reach out with open hearts and hands to our new neighbor – the family next door, down the street, at church or at school. When we, who live In Partnership With God, reach out with Christ like love and compassion, our love will not be forgotten.
(This Sunday morning I welcomed a person I did not know to church. It turned out this was his first time in the church. He had been born in Dothan, AL – where I served as Assistant Pastor of 1st Presbyterian Church. We had much to talk about – boiled peanuts anyone?)
Monday, September 21, 2009
To Dallas to Buy a House #74
We have the dates and other information through Sally Jo’s annual diaries.
October 3: Sally Jo and I made our first trip to Dallas, returning the next day. During this time we had dinner with the only two people in Dallas we knew, met with members of the Sky Ranch Board, visited the new Sky Ranch site, and very briefly drove by houses, particularly in the Richardson school district which was recommended by three Board members who lived in the area.
When we told Sally Jo’s parents that we would be moving to Texas, Sally Jo’s dad, a Realtor himself, recommended another real estate agent to handle the sale of our house – and suggested that we listen to the price recommendation of the real estate agent – the agent worked on commission and therefore wanted both the sale of the house – and as large a commission as possible.
October 15: our house was inspected and three days after we put the house on the market, we had a buyer.
October 16: I returned to Dallas with the specific of purpose of buying a house. It was a bit of a shock to have Mike and Glen now almost laugh at me when I said we would like to buy a house in the Richardson school district. These men lived in the area and knew how expensive it was. Never-the-less, they recommended a residential real estate agent from the area.
As she took me around the school district, I was convinced that this was where we should live – good schools, convenient to stores, minutes for where the Sky Ranch office would be, and an easy 30 minute drive to down town Dallas. The Realtor and I spent the day looking at houses. Mike and Glen were right. Even the most modest house was expensive. The next day I flew back to Illinois – no progress. The real estate agent agreed to send us the new listings. This was 1975, before fax machines, e-mail, and the ability to check real estate listings on line.
When we received the listings we would look carefully for a house we could afford. Nothing! Time was running out!
November 19: we saw a listing for a four bedroom home with 1 ½ bath rooms and the price had been reduced – again. It would be affordable!! We could easily live with 1 ½ bathrooms!! I called the agent and identified for her the house we had found in the listings. I asked if the reason it had not sold was because it only had 1 ½ bath rooms. She said the information was incorrect: she had been in the home - it had 2 ½ bathrooms and the house was in very good condition.
The next morning I was on a plane to Dallas. The house found in the listing was located a block from the grade school and 3 blocks from the junior high school. As the Realtor had told me over the telephone, the house had 2 ½ baths and was in excellent condition – with two pecan trees in the fence enclosed back yard. My offer was accepted immediately, and we had our house. Had God caused the error in the real estate listing so we could get a good home at an affordable price? How could we know? I do know that when we sold the house seven years later, we cleared $72,000
December 7: Sally Jo and I fly to Dallas for a dinner reception with Sky Ranch people, a second look at the new camp property, a meeting with the Sky Ranch Board of Directors - and so Sally Jo could see our new house and we could sign the necessary documents.
December 28: the moving van came, and with it the reality that our family was moving from the security of the Wheaton area, where Sally Jo and I had both grown up and we had extended family, to Texas, a place we had seldom seen and where we knew only two people. I was leaving my walnut desk in Oak Brook to become the Executive Director of Sky Ranch - a ministry represented only by a large piece of undeveloped land near Van, Texas.
Leaving right after Christmas made the move extra tough. This was a huge step of obedient faith, but God continued to confirm that He had guided our decision, that He was going before. We were living In Partnership With God.
October 3: Sally Jo and I made our first trip to Dallas, returning the next day. During this time we had dinner with the only two people in Dallas we knew, met with members of the Sky Ranch Board, visited the new Sky Ranch site, and very briefly drove by houses, particularly in the Richardson school district which was recommended by three Board members who lived in the area.
When we told Sally Jo’s parents that we would be moving to Texas, Sally Jo’s dad, a Realtor himself, recommended another real estate agent to handle the sale of our house – and suggested that we listen to the price recommendation of the real estate agent – the agent worked on commission and therefore wanted both the sale of the house – and as large a commission as possible.
October 15: our house was inspected and three days after we put the house on the market, we had a buyer.
October 16: I returned to Dallas with the specific of purpose of buying a house. It was a bit of a shock to have Mike and Glen now almost laugh at me when I said we would like to buy a house in the Richardson school district. These men lived in the area and knew how expensive it was. Never-the-less, they recommended a residential real estate agent from the area.
As she took me around the school district, I was convinced that this was where we should live – good schools, convenient to stores, minutes for where the Sky Ranch office would be, and an easy 30 minute drive to down town Dallas. The Realtor and I spent the day looking at houses. Mike and Glen were right. Even the most modest house was expensive. The next day I flew back to Illinois – no progress. The real estate agent agreed to send us the new listings. This was 1975, before fax machines, e-mail, and the ability to check real estate listings on line.
When we received the listings we would look carefully for a house we could afford. Nothing! Time was running out!
November 19: we saw a listing for a four bedroom home with 1 ½ bath rooms and the price had been reduced – again. It would be affordable!! We could easily live with 1 ½ bathrooms!! I called the agent and identified for her the house we had found in the listings. I asked if the reason it had not sold was because it only had 1 ½ bath rooms. She said the information was incorrect: she had been in the home - it had 2 ½ bathrooms and the house was in very good condition.
The next morning I was on a plane to Dallas. The house found in the listing was located a block from the grade school and 3 blocks from the junior high school. As the Realtor had told me over the telephone, the house had 2 ½ baths and was in excellent condition – with two pecan trees in the fence enclosed back yard. My offer was accepted immediately, and we had our house. Had God caused the error in the real estate listing so we could get a good home at an affordable price? How could we know? I do know that when we sold the house seven years later, we cleared $72,000
December 7: Sally Jo and I fly to Dallas for a dinner reception with Sky Ranch people, a second look at the new camp property, a meeting with the Sky Ranch Board of Directors - and so Sally Jo could see our new house and we could sign the necessary documents.
December 28: the moving van came, and with it the reality that our family was moving from the security of the Wheaton area, where Sally Jo and I had both grown up and we had extended family, to Texas, a place we had seldom seen and where we knew only two people. I was leaving my walnut desk in Oak Brook to become the Executive Director of Sky Ranch - a ministry represented only by a large piece of undeveloped land near Van, Texas.
Leaving right after Christmas made the move extra tough. This was a huge step of obedient faith, but God continued to confirm that He had guided our decision, that He was going before. We were living In Partnership With God.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Role Models: My Parents, Grand Parents, Aunt #73
It was not until this week that I realized Sally Jo and I are living demonstrations of what Jesus Christ asked people to do 12 times in the New Testament: “Follow Me” (i.e. Mt 4:10). Jesus said: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27). I never really thought about the fact that we are sheep of Jesus Christ – we know His voice and we follow Him.
Twice we left family, six times we left friends, a nice home, and financial security – and started completely over again in a different area of ministry, and in each case we went into a very challenging situation!! Georgia for seminary, Assistant Pastor in a city Presbyterian church in Alabama, Pastor of a country Methodist Church in Connecticut, Presbyterian Minister to students at Middle Tennessee State University in Tennessee, Associate Pastor of an independent church in IL, a camp director in Texas and New York. Frankly, we never gave much thought to what we were leaving – we focused on obeying the still small voice within us. We never did physically hear the voice of God, or see handwriting on the wall as did Belshazzar at his feast (Daniel 5:5), or have a fleece turn damp, and then dry, as did Gideon (Judges 6:37).
What triggered my thinking this through? A writing of C. S. Lewis quoted in _Devotional Classics_ edited by Richard Foster and James Bryan Smith. “Christ says give me All. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money or so much of your work: I want you… No half measures are any good.” And I asked myself “is this me?"
And this is our mind-set: we want God to have all of us. We want the peace that passes all understanding, the promise that God will supply all of our needs. For Christmas, 1959, three years before we got married, Sally Jo gave me a Bible (which I still use almost every week when I write these IPWG). In the front she wrote: “To Chuck – Love in Him – Sally Jo Eph 3:14-20 “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us”.
This is our mind-set just as this had been our parent’s mind-set, their hearts desire. Here is my heritage: When my dad graduated from medical school, he and mom left all as they went to a 400 bed mission hospital in inland China. At the end of their first furlough, in spite of a cholera epidemic, not knowing that soon the Japanese would come and occupy the land, they returned to China, where I was born. Due to the war, our family was fortunate to get out alive. And what did my parents want to do? Return to the foreign mission field! Mom’s father left his successful lumber business in Kansas to attend Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. He became their dean and then the VP of finance at Wheaton College. My great Aunt left Germany as a missionary to the West Indies. We have the large wooden trunk into which she packed everything she would be able to take with her.
Both of our parents modeled obedience to the Lord – and encouraged us to do the same. When I was in seminary, still single, I remember walking into my dorm room and finding my dad asleep on my bed. He woke up and soon said to me: “Chuck, I want you to know how proud your mother and I are of you. Never forget that only what you do for Jesus Christ will last”. He and mom often said “the safest place to be is in the center of God’s will”.
As Sally Jo and I have lived our lives, we have experienced the Lord going before us. God has met our specific needs over and over again. God has done for us and through us things that have been beyond what we could possibly imagine – everywhere we have served.
There is great joy of living In Partnership With God.
Twice we left family, six times we left friends, a nice home, and financial security – and started completely over again in a different area of ministry, and in each case we went into a very challenging situation!! Georgia for seminary, Assistant Pastor in a city Presbyterian church in Alabama, Pastor of a country Methodist Church in Connecticut, Presbyterian Minister to students at Middle Tennessee State University in Tennessee, Associate Pastor of an independent church in IL, a camp director in Texas and New York. Frankly, we never gave much thought to what we were leaving – we focused on obeying the still small voice within us. We never did physically hear the voice of God, or see handwriting on the wall as did Belshazzar at his feast (Daniel 5:5), or have a fleece turn damp, and then dry, as did Gideon (Judges 6:37).
What triggered my thinking this through? A writing of C. S. Lewis quoted in _Devotional Classics_ edited by Richard Foster and James Bryan Smith. “Christ says give me All. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money or so much of your work: I want you… No half measures are any good.” And I asked myself “is this me?"
And this is our mind-set: we want God to have all of us. We want the peace that passes all understanding, the promise that God will supply all of our needs. For Christmas, 1959, three years before we got married, Sally Jo gave me a Bible (which I still use almost every week when I write these IPWG). In the front she wrote: “To Chuck – Love in Him – Sally Jo Eph 3:14-20 “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us”.
This is our mind-set just as this had been our parent’s mind-set, their hearts desire. Here is my heritage: When my dad graduated from medical school, he and mom left all as they went to a 400 bed mission hospital in inland China. At the end of their first furlough, in spite of a cholera epidemic, not knowing that soon the Japanese would come and occupy the land, they returned to China, where I was born. Due to the war, our family was fortunate to get out alive. And what did my parents want to do? Return to the foreign mission field! Mom’s father left his successful lumber business in Kansas to attend Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. He became their dean and then the VP of finance at Wheaton College. My great Aunt left Germany as a missionary to the West Indies. We have the large wooden trunk into which she packed everything she would be able to take with her.
Both of our parents modeled obedience to the Lord – and encouraged us to do the same. When I was in seminary, still single, I remember walking into my dorm room and finding my dad asleep on my bed. He woke up and soon said to me: “Chuck, I want you to know how proud your mother and I are of you. Never forget that only what you do for Jesus Christ will last”. He and mom often said “the safest place to be is in the center of God’s will”.
As Sally Jo and I have lived our lives, we have experienced the Lord going before us. God has met our specific needs over and over again. God has done for us and through us things that have been beyond what we could possibly imagine – everywhere we have served.
There is great joy of living In Partnership With God.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Living Apart from Family #72
Family is very important to God. We see this clearly in many passages of scripture including these two:
As we have lived In Partnership With God, we have believed we should make each move: IL to GA to AL to CT to TN to IL to TX to NY. Our three years in Illinois is the only time in the past 47 years we have lived near any family! For 3 years we had the privilege of having both of our parents, and the families of our three brothers and a sister, within 30 minutes. When we moved to Texas, gone were the gatherings of extended family for birthdays, Christmas, and New Years. Gone were the opportunities for lunch with our parents/grand parents, to have our children play in my parent’s swimming pool, to spend wonderful days at Sally Jo’s family cabin on a small lake in Wisconsin.
Once again we were…alone – a couple day’s drive from any family member. And we were there because we had no real choice. Yes, from a human perspective, we could have enjoyed staying near family and been financially comfortable with me as the CEO of a successful corporation. But we knew that if we did, we would be disobeying God. God said “go”, and so we went – just as all foreign missionaries do. It is tough! We knew God wanted us to go to Texas to build a camp/conference center – and to build a new life. But this type of obedience is painful!
In 201, the total Gieser clan will be together for several days for the third time in 10 years – now there are 53 of us. It helps that, even though we may be very different people, we all like each other. We will enjoy catching up on each other’s lives. We will play together, share many meals, have some very serious conversations, and, undoubtedly, shed tears together. Life is not easy for any of us all of the time. In the end, if history repeats itself, we will all leave with a new understanding, an increased respect, a greater love for each other.
If you live near family, I encourage you to make time to share life with each other. If you do not live near all of the members of the family, do your best to visit those some distance away. It is wonderful to know that family is willing to make the effort to come for a visit, to see the context of our daily lives. As my sister-in-law said last summer: “Now I understand”.
And if you know people who do not have family in the area, be they students, particularly foreign students, or people in ministry, or new in the neighborhood or church – or for any number of other reasons – consider welcoming these people into the context of your family. Thankfully everywhere we have moved people within God’s family have done this to us.
Even with rapid communication, being alone is tough! Sharing God’s love with fellow believers who are alone is of great encouragement. Sharing God’s love with those outside of the family of God can be a life-changing experience for them, and for us.
“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” -- I John 4:16
- “The Lord then said to Noah, Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.” Genesis 7:1
- “Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the
land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each
one of you is to return to his family property and each to his own
clan.” Leviticus 25:10
As we have lived In Partnership With God, we have believed we should make each move: IL to GA to AL to CT to TN to IL to TX to NY. Our three years in Illinois is the only time in the past 47 years we have lived near any family! For 3 years we had the privilege of having both of our parents, and the families of our three brothers and a sister, within 30 minutes. When we moved to Texas, gone were the gatherings of extended family for birthdays, Christmas, and New Years. Gone were the opportunities for lunch with our parents/grand parents, to have our children play in my parent’s swimming pool, to spend wonderful days at Sally Jo’s family cabin on a small lake in Wisconsin.
Once again we were…alone – a couple day’s drive from any family member. And we were there because we had no real choice. Yes, from a human perspective, we could have enjoyed staying near family and been financially comfortable with me as the CEO of a successful corporation. But we knew that if we did, we would be disobeying God. God said “go”, and so we went – just as all foreign missionaries do. It is tough! We knew God wanted us to go to Texas to build a camp/conference center – and to build a new life. But this type of obedience is painful!
In 201, the total Gieser clan will be together for several days for the third time in 10 years – now there are 53 of us. It helps that, even though we may be very different people, we all like each other. We will enjoy catching up on each other’s lives. We will play together, share many meals, have some very serious conversations, and, undoubtedly, shed tears together. Life is not easy for any of us all of the time. In the end, if history repeats itself, we will all leave with a new understanding, an increased respect, a greater love for each other.
- Remember how Abraham risked the life of his family to save the life of his brother Lot and his family.
- Remember how Paul wrote to Timothy, reminding him of the faith of his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice – and that now lived in him.
- Remember how God told Jewish family clans to gather together every 50 years.
If you live near family, I encourage you to make time to share life with each other. If you do not live near all of the members of the family, do your best to visit those some distance away. It is wonderful to know that family is willing to make the effort to come for a visit, to see the context of our daily lives. As my sister-in-law said last summer: “Now I understand”.
And if you know people who do not have family in the area, be they students, particularly foreign students, or people in ministry, or new in the neighborhood or church – or for any number of other reasons – consider welcoming these people into the context of your family. Thankfully everywhere we have moved people within God’s family have done this to us.
Even with rapid communication, being alone is tough! Sharing God’s love with fellow believers who are alone is of great encouragement. Sharing God’s love with those outside of the family of God can be a life-changing experience for them, and for us.
“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” -- I John 4:16
Monday, August 24, 2009
Opportunity or Temptation? #71
Soon after it was announced I was resigning as Associate Pastor of Christ Church of Oak Brook to become the Executive Director of Sky Ranch, located in east Texas, people learned that Sky Ranch, a summer camp with an 18 year history, presently had land, but no facility, no staff, and very little equipment – not even any horses. I had the responsibility of designing and putting into operation a radically different camp/conference ministry – in five months.
It was in this context that Bernie Cozette asked if I would consider becoming the CEO of his corporation. Bernie and I knew each other well. He was an elder in the church and had been observing my work. I knew that his business was solid and growing. He assured me that if I choose to become the CEO, I could expect to become a millionaire.
Because I was absolutely certain Sally Jo and I knew God had asked me to assume the leadership responsibility of the Sky Ranch ministry, I was able to tell him what we both knew: It was time to move to Texas.
About 20 years later I returned to Christ Church on a Sunday morning. I was warmly welcomed by many friends from years past. I was in the foyer when up walked an elderly man. “Do you remember me? Yes, you are Bernie Cozette. Chuck, do you remember the offer I made to you after you resigned from your position here at the church? Bernie, yes, I remember the offer – but have often wondered if it was a figment of my imagination. Chuck, my request that you become CEO of my corporation was very real. If you would have accepted, today you would be a multi-millionaire. Are you sorry that you didn’t?”
I smiled as I responded: “Bernie, God has worked me hard and used every gift and ability which I have. We have never been hungry and we have always had a roof over our heads. Ours has been a rich life, and no, I am not sorry that I turned down your offer.” As we looked at each other, I could see the tears flowing down Bernie’s cheeks. “Chuck, I am thankful you feel that way. I just had to ask.”
I have often thought back to the offer. I am not sorry for the decision we made, but I have often wondered, had I become the CEO of the corporation, would the Lord have helped me be successful as a corporate CEO, even as He has enabled me to effective in ministry. I doubt it. I do know that Sally Jo and I would not have had the same opportunity to work together that we have enjoyed in Christian camping.
This opportunity to turn from what we know God would have us do for what would likely have been a more comfortable and secure future was very similar to when I had resigned as Pastor of the little Bakerville United Methodist Church. At that time John Kinsey asked “Chuck, how much money would it take to get you to stay.” When I told him that, regardless of the money involved, we would be moving to Murfreesboro, TN, John responded with “I thought that is what you would say, but I had to ask.”
When we serve in vocational Christian ministry we have the opportunity of seeing and of experiencing the hand of the Lord upon us, upon what we do. Those not in vocational Christian ministry also have the opportunity of seeing and of experiencing the hand of the Lord upon them, upon what they do.
God has chosen those in vocational Christian ministry for the work we do, enriching the spiritual lives of His children. God has chosen others to support those in vocational Christian ministry financially, and in other ways. Those in vocational Christian ministry pay a price for what we do – and the believers who work in other vocations “pay a price” for supporting those in vocational Christian ministry. Together we are an incredible team – to serve for the Glory of God. Let us all see this as our privilege. When either does not carry out his responsibility, a ministry or person can be crippled, even destroyed.
Come back to Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Each of us has the opportunity and responsibility to live In Partnership With God.
It was in this context that Bernie Cozette asked if I would consider becoming the CEO of his corporation. Bernie and I knew each other well. He was an elder in the church and had been observing my work. I knew that his business was solid and growing. He assured me that if I choose to become the CEO, I could expect to become a millionaire.
Because I was absolutely certain Sally Jo and I knew God had asked me to assume the leadership responsibility of the Sky Ranch ministry, I was able to tell him what we both knew: It was time to move to Texas.
About 20 years later I returned to Christ Church on a Sunday morning. I was warmly welcomed by many friends from years past. I was in the foyer when up walked an elderly man. “Do you remember me? Yes, you are Bernie Cozette. Chuck, do you remember the offer I made to you after you resigned from your position here at the church? Bernie, yes, I remember the offer – but have often wondered if it was a figment of my imagination. Chuck, my request that you become CEO of my corporation was very real. If you would have accepted, today you would be a multi-millionaire. Are you sorry that you didn’t?”
I smiled as I responded: “Bernie, God has worked me hard and used every gift and ability which I have. We have never been hungry and we have always had a roof over our heads. Ours has been a rich life, and no, I am not sorry that I turned down your offer.” As we looked at each other, I could see the tears flowing down Bernie’s cheeks. “Chuck, I am thankful you feel that way. I just had to ask.”
I have often thought back to the offer. I am not sorry for the decision we made, but I have often wondered, had I become the CEO of the corporation, would the Lord have helped me be successful as a corporate CEO, even as He has enabled me to effective in ministry. I doubt it. I do know that Sally Jo and I would not have had the same opportunity to work together that we have enjoyed in Christian camping.
This opportunity to turn from what we know God would have us do for what would likely have been a more comfortable and secure future was very similar to when I had resigned as Pastor of the little Bakerville United Methodist Church. At that time John Kinsey asked “Chuck, how much money would it take to get you to stay.” When I told him that, regardless of the money involved, we would be moving to Murfreesboro, TN, John responded with “I thought that is what you would say, but I had to ask.”
When we serve in vocational Christian ministry we have the opportunity of seeing and of experiencing the hand of the Lord upon us, upon what we do. Those not in vocational Christian ministry also have the opportunity of seeing and of experiencing the hand of the Lord upon them, upon what they do.
God has chosen those in vocational Christian ministry for the work we do, enriching the spiritual lives of His children. God has chosen others to support those in vocational Christian ministry financially, and in other ways. Those in vocational Christian ministry pay a price for what we do – and the believers who work in other vocations “pay a price” for supporting those in vocational Christian ministry. Together we are an incredible team – to serve for the Glory of God. Let us all see this as our privilege. When either does not carry out his responsibility, a ministry or person can be crippled, even destroyed.
Come back to Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Each of us has the opportunity and responsibility to live In Partnership With God.
Monday, August 17, 2009
God's Orchestration #70
During my second year at Christ Church, Clayton Bell, pastor of 4,000 member Highland Park Presbyterian Church In Dallas, and the minister for whom I was assistant during my first two years out of seminary, called and asked if I would come develop a camp/conference center for the church. This would have been a great opportunity, a fun challenge, but I had to tell Clayton that I could not come at this time as my responsibility at Christ Church was like Jell-O: all the ingredients were in the bowl, but the Jell-O had not had time to set up.
During my third year at Christ Church the men involved with the church’s family camp came and asked me to look for an previously developed facility, suitable for camps, conferences, and retreats. The senior minister gave his approval. Some time later I located what seemed to be an excellent possibility 3-4 hours away near Muskegon, Michigan. When I talked with the men involved, they suggested that I visit the facility and at least one of them would go along. I called the realtor and told him of our serious interest. He became very quiet. Then he said “I wish I had known – it sold yesterday, and the owner had hoped it would be purchased by Christians.”
Two hours later I received a call from Glen Hinckley, a member of Highland Park Presbyterian Church. He was on the Board of Sky Ranch, and they were in need of a new director. Clayton Bell had suggested me, but told them he did not think I would come as he had contacted me the previous year. Glen went on to tell me that Sky Ranch, a summer-only camp for children/young people, had been in operation for 18 years, and was located just North of Dallas. People were moving in around the camp so it had been sold. A large piece of property had been given to Sky Ranch and plans were underway to develop a year around facility, including a 70-acre lake. Young Life had already agreed to use the facility on several non-summer weekends. With no notice, the past director had turned in his resignation. This was November and the new camp needed to be up and running on June 1. I asked how serious he was, and he assured me “very serious!”
I told him that Sally Jo and I had blocked off the next few days to go to her brother’s farm, thus we could be gone and we would not be missed. The next day we were on a plane headed for Dallas. We were soon learning the ministry plans and reviewing the land development and architectural plans for the lodge and a typical camper/retreat/family cabin. Sally Jo and I could both see problems with the building designs which had been developed by an architect who specialized in plans for country clubs. We said nothing.
The next morning we headed out to the new property, located about 2 hours east of Dallas in Van, Texas. The location was excellent, but it became increasingly evident that the camp board did not have a clear picture of the program or what the total facility should be.
I declined the invitation, and explained we were not comfortable with their vision for the camp/conference/family ministry and facility. The next morning, as we headed for the Dallas airport, I was asked if I would develop a program plan with ideas for a suitable facility. If they agreed with my suggestions, would we seriously consider coming? I said “yes”.
We returned to Chicago and that night we went out to dinner as guests of an older couple from Christ Church. They took us to a restaurant with good food, a German band, and a belly dancer! Crazy. Fun! During the evening we shared with them the events of the week. “What did they think?” They knew us and of our love of camping. We respected their experience and wisdom. After some discussion their recommendation was “go”.
Sally Jo and I had some very serious conversations. We agreed that I should develop an extensive proposal. I was very forthright. We wanted no misunderstanding. When members of the Sky Ranch Board called, we talked a long time!
Bottom Line: we agreed to go, believing that God had directed our path. Proverbs 3:6. “We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph.2:10 We experienced God’s peace.
During my third year at Christ Church the men involved with the church’s family camp came and asked me to look for an previously developed facility, suitable for camps, conferences, and retreats. The senior minister gave his approval. Some time later I located what seemed to be an excellent possibility 3-4 hours away near Muskegon, Michigan. When I talked with the men involved, they suggested that I visit the facility and at least one of them would go along. I called the realtor and told him of our serious interest. He became very quiet. Then he said “I wish I had known – it sold yesterday, and the owner had hoped it would be purchased by Christians.”
Two hours later I received a call from Glen Hinckley, a member of Highland Park Presbyterian Church. He was on the Board of Sky Ranch, and they were in need of a new director. Clayton Bell had suggested me, but told them he did not think I would come as he had contacted me the previous year. Glen went on to tell me that Sky Ranch, a summer-only camp for children/young people, had been in operation for 18 years, and was located just North of Dallas. People were moving in around the camp so it had been sold. A large piece of property had been given to Sky Ranch and plans were underway to develop a year around facility, including a 70-acre lake. Young Life had already agreed to use the facility on several non-summer weekends. With no notice, the past director had turned in his resignation. This was November and the new camp needed to be up and running on June 1. I asked how serious he was, and he assured me “very serious!”
I told him that Sally Jo and I had blocked off the next few days to go to her brother’s farm, thus we could be gone and we would not be missed. The next day we were on a plane headed for Dallas. We were soon learning the ministry plans and reviewing the land development and architectural plans for the lodge and a typical camper/retreat/family cabin. Sally Jo and I could both see problems with the building designs which had been developed by an architect who specialized in plans for country clubs. We said nothing.
The next morning we headed out to the new property, located about 2 hours east of Dallas in Van, Texas. The location was excellent, but it became increasingly evident that the camp board did not have a clear picture of the program or what the total facility should be.
I declined the invitation, and explained we were not comfortable with their vision for the camp/conference/family ministry and facility. The next morning, as we headed for the Dallas airport, I was asked if I would develop a program plan with ideas for a suitable facility. If they agreed with my suggestions, would we seriously consider coming? I said “yes”.
We returned to Chicago and that night we went out to dinner as guests of an older couple from Christ Church. They took us to a restaurant with good food, a German band, and a belly dancer! Crazy. Fun! During the evening we shared with them the events of the week. “What did they think?” They knew us and of our love of camping. We respected their experience and wisdom. After some discussion their recommendation was “go”.
Sally Jo and I had some very serious conversations. We agreed that I should develop an extensive proposal. I was very forthright. We wanted no misunderstanding. When members of the Sky Ranch Board called, we talked a long time!
Bottom Line: we agreed to go, believing that God had directed our path. Proverbs 3:6. “We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph.2:10 We experienced God’s peace.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Why Me? #69
Why was I raised in the United States by well-educated Christian parents, never having known un-treatable disease, hunger, war or persecution - when others are born into Christian families and seem to continually know disease, hunger, war and persecution? Why do I have so much – when the vast majority of His children have so little? This question challenges my theology. Life is not fair!
My response to the inequities of life has been to take what the Lord has given me, to take who I am and accept the challenge of Dwight L. Moody’s words: “The world has yet to see what God can do through a man fully dedicated to him. By God’s grace, I will be that man.” I have worked at living In Partnership With God. This is where my heart has been, where it is.
So what did God have to work with? Certainly not the brightest kid on the block! Certainly not the person with the most charismatic personality – that everyone enjoyed being around. And not a great athlete – a good right guard on the football team, but a person that is no good at basketball, tennis, or baseball. A reasonably good singer, but not a musician. Not a great leader - I was not elected to lead anything. My big mouth and boldness continually got me into minor trouble. My driving habits and dating conduct were not always “above reproach”. Why am I the way I am, given the advantages that have always been a part of my life? I can blame it on Satan, but in reality I know that the decisions I make are my own choice.
I remain before Jesus Christ and others, a very sinful person. James 3 describes me well: "We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. Ephesians 5 does not describe me well: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” My mouth combined with my lack of patience, gentleness, and self-control have always gotten me into difficult situations – and though I desperately try to change, this combination of my sinful nature still spills out, causing myself and others considerable pain! Where is the evidence of the fruit of the spirit in my life?
So why has God chosen to give me the experiences of His reality, to impact the lives of hundreds of young people, often in measurable ways? I could say it is a mystery, and to some degree it is. To stop here is easy, but may not be the most helpful. I believe the following is also true:
My response to the inequities of life has been to take what the Lord has given me, to take who I am and accept the challenge of Dwight L. Moody’s words: “The world has yet to see what God can do through a man fully dedicated to him. By God’s grace, I will be that man.” I have worked at living In Partnership With God. This is where my heart has been, where it is.
So what did God have to work with? Certainly not the brightest kid on the block! Certainly not the person with the most charismatic personality – that everyone enjoyed being around. And not a great athlete – a good right guard on the football team, but a person that is no good at basketball, tennis, or baseball. A reasonably good singer, but not a musician. Not a great leader - I was not elected to lead anything. My big mouth and boldness continually got me into minor trouble. My driving habits and dating conduct were not always “above reproach”. Why am I the way I am, given the advantages that have always been a part of my life? I can blame it on Satan, but in reality I know that the decisions I make are my own choice.
I remain before Jesus Christ and others, a very sinful person. James 3 describes me well: "We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. Ephesians 5 does not describe me well: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” My mouth combined with my lack of patience, gentleness, and self-control have always gotten me into difficult situations – and though I desperately try to change, this combination of my sinful nature still spills out, causing myself and others considerable pain! Where is the evidence of the fruit of the spirit in my life?
So why has God chosen to give me the experiences of His reality, to impact the lives of hundreds of young people, often in measurable ways? I could say it is a mystery, and to some degree it is. To stop here is easy, but may not be the most helpful. I believe the following is also true:
- God knows my heart – and knows that, deep down, I hate my sin. I live frustrated with the fact that I continue to sin in my thinking, in what I say, in what I do. I do work at confessing my specific sins to Him realizing that Jesus Christ died for my sins. I am living proof that Psalm 103 is true: “for as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
- God knows my heart – and knows that I really want to please Him – to serve Him however He chooses. To me this includes working at being honest and open, at not being timid when I feel He has a job for me to do, be it seemingly small or large. Sometimes this job seems to be to share the experiences God has given me to encourage others.